tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53284274095084261592024-03-08T11:17:19.003-08:00Cris ConquersCris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.comBlogger243125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-12540588850102770332019-07-18T10:00:00.000-07:002019-07-18T10:00:00.597-07:00Affordable Skin Care From The INKEY List: Is It Worth It?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1TzdgU_umQJKu8Lw9_uxvYiTSsWqsQAv9iCi3pld23ZBV9EybBF84z_qJjqdI-tPdyFA1DmIW-SCJ51mQnr8gpFAUlCIp3MuQRcvieU-JxhUN61Ufh0tRybEPmxLhnJRwBMFEcWb0wQ/s1600/IMG_4797-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY1TzdgU_umQJKu8Lw9_uxvYiTSsWqsQAv9iCi3pld23ZBV9EybBF84z_qJjqdI-tPdyFA1DmIW-SCJ51mQnr8gpFAUlCIp3MuQRcvieU-JxhUN61Ufh0tRybEPmxLhnJRwBMFEcWb0wQ/s1600/IMG_4797-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>A
couple of month’s ago, I stumbled across a new affordable skincare
brand while perusing Sephora’s ‘New In’ section. <a href="https://www.sephora.com/brand/the-inkey-list?icid2=product_link_brand">The INKEY List</a>, a U.K. based brand, has a range of nearly 20 products, each
built around one heavy-hitting ingredient that’s designed to target
a specific skin care concern. With each product costing under $15 and
the clean, minimalist branding, I knew I wanted to give some of these
products a go to see if they could be hidden gems. I ordered two
products that filled specific gaps in my skin care routine to see if
they really held up to their claims or if the pricing was just too
good to be true.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<b style="font-family: inherit;"><u><a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/hyaluronic-acid-serum-P443845?icid2=products%20grid:p443845:product">Hyaluronic Acid Serum –$7.99</a></u></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">This serum is
light-weight and feels like water on the skin. It feels a bit tacky
once blended in but after about 5-10 minutes it fully absorbs and the
tackiness is gone. I tend to use this day and night with another
serum in my collection, just to bump up the moisture content of my
skin and make it feel a bit plumper. All in all, this serum does what
it claims to do – hydrates and plumps your skin with a light-weight
feel that penetrates beneath the skin’s layers.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The
packaging is a bit cheap and simple but if you’re careful you can
be pretty precise with the amount of drops you squeeze out. The
upside is that the plastic bottle would be ideal for someone who
travels frequently. I find that a few drops are enough to cover my
face. I’ve been using this for about two months and still have a
ton of product left in the bottle, so your money really goes a long
way with the serum. Although it's a great bargain for a
hyaluronic acid serum, I think I actually prefer the one from L’Oreal
in texture, packaging and results, despite it being twice the price.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DQE8XgwFA-thw5HX8qEhTQ71uWcMxxvclY2LBTnNMQ5IFiaDRD7CSwFK3RlaxeHrNM8ESvcTvp1q0MVKrQhUPCUJ_qoZYGpquBYM93QctugHyFuS0a-nrzP4aNECSkSPUtnrlR21rFY/s1600/IMG_4804-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4DQE8XgwFA-thw5HX8qEhTQ71uWcMxxvclY2LBTnNMQ5IFiaDRD7CSwFK3RlaxeHrNM8ESvcTvp1q0MVKrQhUPCUJ_qoZYGpquBYM93QctugHyFuS0a-nrzP4aNECSkSPUtnrlR21rFY/s1600/IMG_4804-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u><a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/caffeine-eye-cream-P443840?icid2=products%20grid:p443840:product">Caffeine Eye Cream - $9.99</a></u></b></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Again,
you can’t really beat a $10 eye cream. I mean, you’d be hard
pressed to find something that cheap at the drugstore, let alone
Sephora. The texture of the cream is almost like a cross between a
gel and a cream, and much like the Hyaluronic Acid Serum has a slight
tackiness until it is fully absorbed by the skin. The cream does a
great job of hydrating your under eye area but since I don’t really
suffer from much puffiness I can’t speak to that claim. I do, on
the other hand, have pretty dark circles and slightly sunken
under eyes in the mornings. I feel like the cream helps keep
everything a bit smoother but doesn’t have any magic powers that
are going to actually cancel out or cure your dark circles.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I do love
the packaging on the eye cream because it has a pointed nozzle that
really helps you be precise about how much product you squeeze out.
I’ve been using this for about two months now as well and think
it’s a pretty good basic eye cream if you want something light,
unscented and hydrating.</span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div>
<div align="JUSTIFY" style="margin-bottom: 0.11in;">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So, did
these products live up to their claims? In my opinion, yes. If you’re
just starting out with skin care and are looking to build your
routine, or are just looking for affordable, no-fuss products that
help to hydrate your skin without tons of extra gimmicks or scents,
these two products from The INKEY List might be worth checking out.
For a hardened skin care addict or someone looking for dramatic
results, these products probably wouldn’t wow you. But as a
gap-filler in your current routine, The INKEY List has some great
basics at even better prices.
</span></div>
<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-67012642654879213672018-04-26T14:42:00.000-07:002018-04-26T14:42:22.238-07:00Six Months on Keto: An Update<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJlNhyxAd0aqUUaTqY3oY9-3azuxL-k-NU2NC2WRwbvZUyXnSvwxaHrr43XFYZxn9qgVdVkWHI347uS3Gs5hjlGPTF-J7KKfNILv4_h2uMHdY2JmnhTo_S-2ziRudpxsjWWep2Y3l1iY/s1600/IMG_3669-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJlNhyxAd0aqUUaTqY3oY9-3azuxL-k-NU2NC2WRwbvZUyXnSvwxaHrr43XFYZxn9qgVdVkWHI347uS3Gs5hjlGPTF-J7KKfNILv4_h2uMHdY2JmnhTo_S-2ziRudpxsjWWep2Y3l1iY/s1600/IMG_3669-01.jpeg" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlJlNhyxAd0aqUUaTqY3oY9-3azuxL-k-NU2NC2WRwbvZUyXnSvwxaHrr43XFYZxn9qgVdVkWHI347uS3Gs5hjlGPTF-J7KKfNILv4_h2uMHdY2JmnhTo_S-2ziRudpxsjWWep2Y3l1iY/s1600/IMG_3669-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">I’ve officially reached the six-month
marker on my Keto journey and thought I would update you all on my progress. In
</span><a href="http://www.crisconquers.com/2017/12/11-things-i-learned-in-my-first-two.html?spref=tw" style="font-size: 14pt;">my last post on Keto</a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> I had been on the diet for two months and had originally only
planned to stay on it until my thirtieth birthday at the end of March. I
started the diet because, with that milestone approaching, I wanted to finally get
serious about accomplishing one of my biggest goals – to get healthier and lose
weight. Though I had been dubious about my ability to stick to a low-carb diet,
Keto ended up not only being something I could be consistent with but something
that never made me feel restricted.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Somewhere along the way I just fell in
love with the lifestyle and a few months ago I decided to stick with it until
at least the summer before deciding if I wanted to transition onto the Paleo
Diet or something slightly more flexible. As of today, I’ve lost a total of
forty pounds and I couldn’t be happier. I feel a great sense of pride in what I’ve
accomplished and thought I’d share with you some of the ups and downs I’ve had
in the past few months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">INTUITIVE EATING & TRACKING<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Through repetition and eating similar things
every day, you start to become intuitive about eating and knowing how to keep
your carb count under control on Keto. About a month ago or so I stopped using
MyFitnessPal to actually track my intake because tracking in my head became
second nature. Whenever I would go out or eat something out of the ordinary I
would use the app as a reference tool to see how many carbs there were in what
I was consuming but I wasn’t really using it to track. I actually think that I
want to get back into using the app again, despite having done fine with
tracking intuitively, because I like the sense of accountability and control
that it gives me. There’s something kind of nice about seeing everything you
ate laid out for you and seeing your numbers at the end of the day. I would recommend
tracking if you’re starting out and at least for a few months until you get into
the swing of things. If you love making lists or are looking for a greater
sense of control with your diet like I was, I think continuing to use an app to
track your eating will make you feel stronger and more confident throughout
your weight loss journey.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">THE DOWNSIDE OF WEIGHT LOSS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">One thing that you kind of forget to
consider when losing weight is that none of your clothes will fit you once you
do. That seems like kind of a stupid thing to be annoyed about considering
you’re healthier and more confident in your new body but it’s still problematic
when you have to go out into the real world and actually look presentable and
realize that nothing in your closet fits anymore. I have a few pairs of jeans
that were way too small for me originally or that I recently purchased and a
handful of recently purchased tops, but otherwise everything is just too big. I
even had some smaller dresses set aside for when I lost a bit of weight and
even those are too loose and unwearable now. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Again, I know this is something that’s
kind of ridiculous to be annoyed about and several people have told me that “it’s
a good problem to have”. But it can be a bit stressful when everything in your
closet looks wrong on you. I feel like every couple of weeks I’m clearing more
and more things out of my closet. Despite this, I find that I’m not really in a
huge rush to fill my wardrobe just for the sake of filling it. I’m trying to be
particular about the pieces I buy and make sure that I actually enjoy the way
they look on me and can think of an actual occasion for them. I used to buy
things just because they fit and were inexpensive which left me with a packed
closet and nothing I really loved. Since I’m still working on losing more
weight it doesn’t make sense to really invest in pieces that might not fit me
in a few weeks. So, I think I’m going to be the owner of a minimalist closet
for a while longer. On the upside, at least it won’t take me so long to decide
what to wear. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">MY FIRST CHEAT DAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I decided to have my first official
cheat day on my birthday at the end of March and although I had planned to do
it for a while as a reward for my hard work, the closer I got to the date the
more reluctant I became to actually cheat. The reason for this was that I feared
losing the sense of control that I had gained over my impulsive eating
throughout my months on Keto. I didn’t want to lose control and was worried
that by allowing myself things I know I shouldn’t have I’d get back into a
negative pattern by making excuses for myself and allowing myself more and more
bad food. To combat this, I tried to choose specific cheats that I would have
during the day so that I wouldn’t just go crazy and binge on whatever I wanted.
It was like I had pre-approved cheats and could only have what was already on
that list. On my birthday I allowed myself to have a slice of carrot cake and
pasteis de nata from a Portuguese café. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The problem occurred on Easter, a few
days after my birthday when my mother bought a cake to celebrate my birthday
with my family. I hadn’t expected the cake and in fact had made Keto brownies
so that there would be a Keto-friendly dessert. I felt a bit guilty about not
having a slice of my own birthday cake, knowing that my mom had gone out of her
way to buy my favorite cake and I allowed myself to have a small piece. Then
two days later we still had half a cake sitting in our fridge and I convinced
myself that I should feel bad that the cake was going to go to waste and that I
should have another small piece. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know plenty of people can enjoy
cheats occasionally and it doesn’t affect them at all, but because of my
history with dieting in the past and my relationship with food, I think
avoiding cheats completely is probably the best way for me to go. I snapped
myself out of that pattern of bargaining with myself and making excuses and am
happy to be back on track with my Keto journey. In the long run I know that
those little cheats probably didn’t actually affect my progress much, but I
think a lot of dieting has to do with what works for you mentally and what
keeps you feeling strong. And for me, I think my sense of strength comes from
maintaining control and blocking out any guilt or excuses. It’s so easy for me
to fall into a pattern of bargaining with myself. I know some people thrive
with more flexibility but for my own needs and history, that just doesn’t work.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The reason I wanted to talk about all
of this is because I think it’s important for people to know that everyone has
the right to decide whether or not they want to cheat and what works for them.
And I think it’s important to know that just because you cheated, it’s not the
end of the world. What matters most is that you pick yourself back up and get
back on track. Don’t just allow yourself to do more damage by making excuses
for yourself and saying “well, I already messed up so I might as well binge on
pizza and ice cream and whatever the hell I want”. And don’t make yourself feel
worthless or punish yourself with negative self-talk because you cheated.
Harness your strength again by taking back control and pulling yourself back
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll feel all the better for
knowing you did it for yourself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WHEN THE SCALE DOESN’T MOVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For a few weeks there my weight stayed
pretty much the same. I’d step on the scale every week or so hoping to have
lost a pound or two and it wouldn’t have moved. Luckily, I’d read a lot of blog
posts on Keto and watched plenty of vloggers on Youtube talk about how you
shouldn’t get scared or upset if you don’t see the scale moving. Many people get
discouraged and give up, falling right back into their old eating habits. So, I
just told myself “<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Hey, you feel great and
you can see changes happening to your body, even if the number isn’t actually
changing</i>”. Which is true. Your weight can continue to stay the same while
you see visible shrinking in your waist or other places. It’s important to
focus on those positive changes and have faith that your body knows what it’s
doing. Keep with it, stay consistent and you’ll continue to see results. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WHAT COMES NEXT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now that I’ve gone through my whole
post-cheat struggle, I’m more committed to being strict with myself and shutting
down any of my attempts at bargaining. As of tomorrow, I’m going to go back to
tracking on My Fitness Pal for the sense of control and structure that it gives
me. I also plan to start working out using my elliptical machine and some floor
exercises. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I said in my last post about my Keto
journey that I’ve been focused on not comparing my progress to that of other
people, as everybody is different, and I’ve been staying true to that. I know that
there are people who have lost more in six months than I have and if I had been
incorporating a workout plan into my routine these last few months I’m sure my
losses would have been greater. But the whole point is that I did it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">my way</i>. The way that made it feel
easiest and conquerable to me. I wanted to ease into the process and was also
curious to see what I could accomplish with diet alone. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Now I feel ready to take on more and
that’s wonderful. But whether you’re thinking of starting Keto or doing some
other kind of diet, I just want you to remember that it’s important to gauge
what works for you and what you feel you can actually be consistent with. Going
hard but only being able to keep up with it for a week or so before giving up
won’t do you any favors. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">As of right now I have plans to stay
on Keto at least through the summer. In case anyone is wondering, my mother,
who started Keto with me in October is also still sticking with the diet and
has dropped almost thirty-five pounds as well. We’ve both lost approximately
two dress sizes each. I never took any before photos but am considering
eventually posting a photo of my progress. When you look at yourself every day
it becomes harder to really notice the changes. Funny enough, the changes that
tend to stick out to me the most are how much more prominent my cheek bones and
collarbone have started to look. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you have any questions about my
Keto journey or about Keto in general, please don’t hesitate to ask. I’m
actually thinking of putting together a post with commonly asked questions for
beginners based on my experience. I’ve also discovered some wonderful recipes
that I’d love to share if anyone is looking for low-carb desserts. So, if there’s
anything you’re curious about, leave me a comment down below.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-71807881820581228332018-04-21T17:22:00.000-07:002018-04-21T17:30:11.937-07:00Cris Reads: IF EVER I SHOULD LOVE YOU (Spinster Heiresses #1) by Cathy Maxwell<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc9YROhS2f84R2GP5SdnXoOBf6RHaYc7XpDXTYVcCSqo7EvOeIV4wFOBu560H8ZGVYkmmZ6FicR9b1xuq8YjQ9n3CHpD4DRiC9qfMmoHRUnpa-rZYvjQOBZQgInhZRV2DKnuff8u1UQg/s1600/y648.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfc9YROhS2f84R2GP5SdnXoOBf6RHaYc7XpDXTYVcCSqo7EvOeIV4wFOBu560H8ZGVYkmmZ6FicR9b1xuq8YjQ9n3CHpD4DRiC9qfMmoHRUnpa-rZYvjQOBZQgInhZRV2DKnuff8u1UQg/s1600/y648.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
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<strong><i><span style="color: #181818; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Once upon a time there were three
young ladies who, despite their fortunes, had been on the Marriage Mart a bit
too long. They were known as the “Spinster Heiresses” . . . </span></i></strong><i><span style="color: #181818; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
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He’s inherited a title, but not a penny to speak of, so the Earl of Rochdale
knows he must find a wife—preferably one tolerably pretty and good-tempered,
but definitely wealthy, and willing to exchange her fortune for his family
name.<br />
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His choice: Leonie Charnock, one of the season’s “Spinster Heiresses.” Years
before, the earl had saved the dark-eyed beauty’s reputation, and she is still
breathtakingly lovely, leading Rochdale to hope that their marriage will be
more than in name only. <br />
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However, Leonie doesn’t want to be anyone’s wife. Nearly destroyed by the
secrets in her past, Leonie agrees to their union with one condition: there
will be a wedding but no bedding. But it’s a condition the new Countess
Rochdale isn’t sure even she can keep . . .</span> <o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">What
really makes IF EVER I SHOULD LOVE YOU a joy to read is the depth and
development of the characters. When you first meet Leonie you realize that there
are scars and secrets in her past but you don’t truly understand the level to
which they’ve shaped her until you get deeper into the story. We often see
scarred heroes who are struggling to overcome wounds in romance and typically
it is the heroine who aids in the healing process and provides the nurturing
balm that soothes his soul. I really loved how this story flipped that trope on
its head and gave us a heroine who is using alcohol to dull the trauma of her
past and help her cope. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And
even then, Rochdale doesn’t <i>save</i>
Leonie. He illuminates the problem – to both the reader and Leonie herself. She
doesn’t just enjoy a wee nip of brandy from time to time, she craves it. She
needs it to get through the most basic minutiae of her day. The urge controls
her thoughts. But she is the one who must decide for herself what is her top
priority. She is the one who must make the conscious decision, day in and day
out, to do better. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I loved
that the novel didn’t try to sugarcoat the process of dealing with an
addiction. We got to experience things from Leonie’s perspective, watch her
fail and feel like a disappointment. But we also saw her pick herself back up.
We saw her try and try again. And I think that is part of the reason why Leonie
is such a beautiful, honest character. She feels so incredibly human in her daily
struggle and her desire to belong and be loved by a real family. I think it’s
that sense of honesty and relatability which made me unable to put this book down.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">For
me, perfect characters hold no allure. It’s in the flaws and struggles, the ups
and downs, that you really get to connect to a character and feel like you can
understand them. Rochdale is supportive and caring and sexy-as-sin. But he is
by no means perfect. Watching him struggle with the desire and love he feels
for Leonie and the worry that her alcoholism would not only hurt her, but their
future together was a delicate balancing act that felt so realistic. That
struggle between love and fear, trust and protection is one I can definitely understand.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">You
can’t help but fall for Leonie and Rochdale together. Their teasing and the
push and pull of their relationship as they get to know each other as a newly
married couple kept me wanting more. I was so excited to see them start to open
up to one another and grow closer that I couldn’t put the book down. Even the other
spinster heiresses caught my attention and I can’t wait for the next novel in
the series to be released so that I can get to know Cassandra better.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If you’re
looking for a historical romance with a second chance romance and a marriage of
convenience that becomes more then I think this would be a wonderful novel to
pick up. If you’re tired of predictable, two-dimensional characters and weary
of insta-love, then IF EVER I SHOULD LOVE YOU is not to be missed. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ever-Should-Love-You-Heiresses-ebook/dp/B06XZV7SJT/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1524347336&sr=8-3&keywords=cathy+maxwell"><span id="goog_1335914242"></span>Amazon<span id="goog_1335914243"></span></a></b><b> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/if-ever-i-should-love-you-cathy-maxwell/1127803575;jsessionid=43CD257934DFAD9A48B13A713D27078D.prodny_store01-atgap13?ean=9780062655752&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc#/">B & N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/if-ever-i-should-love-you">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Cathy_Maxwell_If_Ever_I_Should_Love_You?id=XvSWDgAAQBAJ">Google Play</a></b><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - ADD TO <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34847519-if-ever-i-should-love-you">GOODREADS</a> -</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BOviYgOjBzckrYjt6SjaASs4OztQwH29U9IkVW-m3jZHgLaHETpPhqdu0wosjwVubGPsI4AhyVBqun8LvGHAQ7jAnnwzff-u9MnaJ2hSU3fvvHrfLfs6RNJ_3qdU2rSnLjxD8ml_OBg/s1600/67037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="714" data-original-width="700" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9BOviYgOjBzckrYjt6SjaASs4OztQwH29U9IkVW-m3jZHgLaHETpPhqdu0wosjwVubGPsI4AhyVBqun8LvGHAQ7jAnnwzff-u9MnaJ2hSU3fvvHrfLfs6RNJ_3qdU2rSnLjxD8ml_OBg/s200/67037.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">Cathy Maxwell’s enthusiasm for life graces the pages of
her books and are the topic of the talks she gives to readers and writers
groups about her chosen career.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 15pt; vertical-align: baseline; word-spacing: 1px;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">She is no stranger to the
limelight. After graduating from college, Cathy started off as a news
broadcaster. She later decided reporting was boring compared to making
news and joined the navy. After a successful stint in Naval
intelligence, including a tour with the Pentagon, Cathy proceeded to pursue
writing. Now, she has 30 published romance novels (and five anthologies)
to her credit, many of them spending significant time on the <i>New York
Times</i> and <i>USA Today </i>mass market best-seller lists.
It’s clear that Cathy has succeeded in achieving her goals to a rare degree!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; letter-spacing: 0.3pt;">This native of Olathe,
Kansas is now learning how to be a Texan. When not writing, she is likely to be
busy with one of many local charities or packing her bags to research her next
novel. Cathy’s motto is “travel light” and she enjoys meeting her fans all over
the world.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://www.cathymaxwell.com/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Website</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> ||</b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/maxwellcathy" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/maxwellcathy/?ref=hl">Facebook</a> || </b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/67037.Cathy_Maxwell" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-73800545421412336922018-04-09T16:50:00.000-07:002018-04-09T16:50:16.747-07:00Cris Reads: JUST ONE SPARK by Jenna Bayley-Burke<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWCSQeVcmYLRyRbegzblzvi5nPumbie9kHAiz2L4yZoDqSBiXc6aH0kR7Nb5XLm96z3YlM8BpXO5J_oi3OGVaX5qKakJ_53Wypg94rUga_kosgG5YOpBi0Vb_lpN46AnjD5Y7pjjj6lw/s1600/39330679+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGWCSQeVcmYLRyRbegzblzvi5nPumbie9kHAiz2L4yZoDqSBiXc6aH0kR7Nb5XLm96z3YlM8BpXO5J_oi3OGVaX5qKakJ_53Wypg94rUga_kosgG5YOpBi0Vb_lpN46AnjD5Y7pjjj6lw/s1600/39330679+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Hannah Daniels reads steamy romance novels to
forget her last trip on the love roller coaster shredded her heart and tossed
it like confetti. Her instincts about men stink, but at work they’re on point.
Only her busy schedule means she reads whenever she can make time. Like at the
laundromat while sitting on top of a washing machine. Don’t judge.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">Firefighter
Mason McNally has searched his whole life for a woman who stirs his soul. When
he finds her, she’s nose-deep in a racy paperback atop a vibrating washer. Her beauty,
boldness, and raw sensuality ignite his interest. But there’s a problem. He’s
forgotten he’s wearing a wedding ring.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt;">No
amount of hasty explanations that it’s for his brother’s psychology experiment
convinces her to give him a chance. But he’s rushed into fiery situations
before, and this woman is totally worth the risk. He’ll just have to prove to
her that first impressions can be wrong and their spark of attraction is oh so
right.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">First
of all, can we talk about how much I love a romance reading heroine? Hannah
loves to escape into the fantasy world of romance novels to forget her own bad
luck with men. When Mason approaches her at the laundromat she’s definitely
attracted to him−that is until she spots a wedding ring on his finger. Repulsed
by the idea of yet another married man trying to use her to cheat on his wife
she makes a quick exit, while Mason is left feeling like he just lost an
opportunity with the girl of his dreams. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Not
only is Mason not married, but he was only wearing the ring to help his brother
with a psychology study he was working on. But Mason is anything but a quitter.
He begins a mission to track down this mystery laundromat girl and repair the bad
impression she got of him. Mason is a total romantic whose parents taught him
that it’s completely possibly to see a woman and just know right from the beginning
that she’s the one for you. And that’s what he feels for Hannah. If only he
could find her again and avoid looking like a stalker while doing it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">This
novel really embraces the idea that when someone is meant for you, fate will
find a way to bring you two together. I’d like to say that some of it was due
to chance or coincidences but really, Mason’s determination and his consistency
really play a big part. He’s supportive and straight-forward and always makes
sure that Hannah knows where he stands in terms of his feelings for her and his
idea of where they’re headed. He does the most adorable little things for her,
like stocking her favorite teas at his apartment and making time in his hectic
work schedule to get to see her as often as possible, to make sure she feels
comfortable and cared for. And he’s a sexy fireman to boot! Seriously, if Jenna
Bayley-Burke could just let me know where to find a man like Mason, I’d really appreciate
it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Hannah
is a very career-oriented woman who has worked her butt off to get to where she
is. It’s not that she’s not interested in romance, but her history with having
her heart broken leaves her a bit gun-shy when it comes to allowing someone into
her heart. Her family doesn’t really understand or respect her job and all that
she’s accomplished but would prefer to see her taking on the roles of wife and
mother instead. Mason is one of the few people who truly has her back and
encourages her in her career goals and celebrates her accomplishments. She’s a
bit hesitant to put her heart at risk yet again but eventually realizes that
with Mason she finds a place where she feels safe and loved. I’m sure all the
amazing sex doesn’t hurt either. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I
honestly adored this novel from start to finish. I really connected with Hannah’s
feelings of protectiveness and trust issues because of her history with men. Mason
was the perfect match to balance out her fears and make her feel supported and
cared for. Openness, consistency and reliability might not sound like the
sexiest traits but when paired with Mason’s passion and desire they were enough
to make my mouth water. Why don’t more people celebrate how incredibly sexy a
supportive, caring man can be? Hey romance authors, get on that please. I mean…keep
in all the dirty talk and hot sex but can your heroes be good listeners who
will draw you a nice hot bath too? Thank you in advance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;">If
you want to read a sexy romance where the hero is the whole package, but not so
perfect as to be a caricature, you need to pick up JUST ONE SPARK. If you love a
heroine who has goals and aspirations of her own and isn’t afraid to go after
them, this one if for you. This story is full of sweet, funny and incredibly
sexy moments that will be sure to brighten your day. </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Disclosure: I received an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen6vLYdPF0T9aTD4wBPGUT4OKnpMOMD3vsFBzpuxSxFNY9y4sTb5LS2FjXldcpl1Gp0pszWszzEKB6JSH_V5AnMTzvCAUV-0L6HBEWYtSDv0ucyTVhJ3qC7Mgs0rUvmh_bIkkLzm_6PE/s1600/jenna.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="268" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghyphenhyphen6vLYdPF0T9aTD4wBPGUT4OKnpMOMD3vsFBzpuxSxFNY9y4sTb5LS2FjXldcpl1Gp0pszWszzEKB6JSH_V5AnMTzvCAUV-0L6HBEWYtSDv0ucyTVhJ3qC7Mgs0rUvmh_bIkkLzm_6PE/s200/jenna.webp" width="134" /></a></div>
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speeding toddler, stronger than a stubborn husband, able to leap tall Lego
structures in a single bound...but by night, while the family sleeps she writes
romance novels where no one ever has to scoop up after the dog, change diapers,
clip coupons, drive carpool, do laundry, mop floors, get silly putty out of
hair, vacuum, empty the vacuum bag (gross!), exercise, count calories, apply
bandaids, clean up puke...wait where was this going? Oh, Jenna writes romance
because it is glamorous. Just ask the dog.</span><br />
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-34693405981681268522018-03-26T17:40:00.001-07:002018-03-26T17:40:54.013-07:006 Easy Ways To Reduce Breakouts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAw_KNORuikjOEFbCtHhekypJQU3_tPWvU34h3znzOqt0A0plNfK_zGB-8tTlCdjYXkZFQJq4XxZt7eybB3bHPOwq48gy8H7bv7jhngb-nHzSHlIGi63XtlQl31OcliWS4lVCRNgYnaE/s1600/Facetune-201803264574386116390494133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAw_KNORuikjOEFbCtHhekypJQU3_tPWvU34h3znzOqt0A0plNfK_zGB-8tTlCdjYXkZFQJq4XxZt7eybB3bHPOwq48gy8H7bv7jhngb-nHzSHlIGi63XtlQl31OcliWS4lVCRNgYnaE/s1600/Facetune-201803264574386116390494133.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;">As someone who has had oily,
acne-prone skin my entire life, I’ve definitely done a lot of trial and error
when it comes to figuring out what causes my breakouts and what I can do to reduce
the chances of my face erupting into tiny, aggravating bumps. I’ve tried tons of
products, some that worked and some that didn’t, but I’ve also learned that
sometimes it’s little things that I’m doing (</span><i style="font-size: 13pt;">or not doing</i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">) that really effect my chances of developing a pimple.
Here are six simple things you can do to help reduce your chances of breaking
out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">ALWAYS TAKE OFF YOUR MAKEUP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know it can be tedious, especially
when you’re tired and just want to go to bed but making sure you always remove
your makeup is important if you want to avoid breakouts. After a long day your
makeup can mix with any dirt and oils on your skin and clog your pores, causing
blackheads and pimples. By removing your makeup, you allow your skin to breathe
easier, which is important as it regenerates throughout the night. Taking off
all that residue will definitely help you cut down on breakouts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">CLEANSE YOUR FACE MORNING & NIGHT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Most people realize how important it
is to cleanse their skin before going to bed to make sure all the oils, dirt
and pollution that their face has been exposed to are washed away. It’s kind of
common sense but it also just feels refreshing to wash your day away before
jumping into bed. But some people do not do a full cleanse in the morning. Personally,
I have oily skin and my face tends to sweat even in my sleep, so I know it’s
important to cleanse that all away in the morning before going through my skincare
routine. It wouldn’t make sense to layer more products over the oils and sweat
that have built up on my face overnight, nor would it make sense to put makeup
over the top of them. </span><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I like to start my morning with a fresh base to avoid trapping
any germs or bacteria under my makeup. I know some people have a drier skin
type and avoid cleansing in the mornings for that reason, but if you’ve been
experiencing breakouts, I’d highly recommend trying it and seeing if it makes a
difference. You can always use a gentler or more hydrating cleanser to suit
your skin. But cleansing both morning and night can go a long way towards
reducing the prevalence of breakouts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">WASH YOUR PILLOWCASES REGULARLY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like I said, people do sweat in their
sleep. And oftentimes that sweat goes straight onto your pillowcase. Not only
that but the products you use in your hair and the oils that build up on it
also get up close and personal with your pillowcase. When
you rest your face on your pillowcase day in and day out, you can end up
putting your skin into close quarters with lots of oils and grime that could
cause breakouts without you realizing. Whenever I start to develop breakouts,
the first thing I do is always change my pillowcase. I tend to change mine at least once a week but depending on your skin you might want to change it even more frequently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">KEEP YOUR MAKEUP BRUSHES CLEAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know it’s annoying and can be time consuming
but washing your makeup brushes can also really cut down your chances of experiencing
a breakout. Think about it. You don’t want bacteria from old makeup building up
on your skin, so why would you put dirty makeup brushes covered in old makeup
on your face? It might seem innocent enough to reuse dirty brushes but when you
really think about what could be built up on your them, it’s just not very hygienic.
Making sure you clean and disinfect your brushes and sponges will ensure that
there’s less bacteria making its way into your makeup pans and onto your skin,
and therefore reduce your chances of developing a blemish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">DISINFECT YOUR PHONE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Are you starting to see a trend here?
Essentially, cleaning the things that come into close contact with your skin on
a regular basis can really help you stop breakouts before they start. People sometimes
forget how often they touch their phones, swiping and typing and leaving oils
and bacteria on their screens. When you press your ear against your phone
all those germs go right onto your face, raising your risk of developing an
annoying little breakout along your cheek or jaw. Wiping down your phone
regularly with a disinfecting wipe can just further help reduce your chances of
breaking out.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">AVOID TOUCHING YOUR FACE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">When I was younger I had a horrible habit
of sitting with my jaw resting on my hand while in class. I’d sit like that for
hours at a time and sure enough would constantly break out on my chin and jaw.
That’s because I was putting germs from anything I had touched onto my face
without even thinking about it. Over time I trained myself not to sit like that
but whenever I’m anxious or working on something I sometimes find that it happens
without me really thinking about it. And usually, when it does happen, I find
that I’ve developed a blemish in that spot. So, if you tend to sit with your chin
resting on your fist or find that you touch your face a lot throughout the day,
you might be causing more breakouts without being aware of it. Try to be more conscious
of how much you touch your face because avoiding it can really help cut down on
the bacteria that’s ending up on your skin.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know some of these tips might seem obvious
or like they wouldn't make much of a difference, but sometimes it’s not so much about what you put on
your skin as what you don’t. Making sure that your skin is cleansed and that
the things you put in direct contact with your face are clean will really cut
down on the blemish-causing bacteria that’s creating all the problems. Sure,
you can buy tons of creams and gels that will help shrink your pimples or make
them a little less red and angry, but why not try to avoid causing them in the
first place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">If you have hormonal acne, a lot of your breakouts have nothing to
do with outside aggressors and everything to do with your body’s chemistry, but
you could still possibly be causing other blemishes in the ways mentioned
above. In my battle with acne I’ve learned that every little bit helps, and
these simple changes have helped with reducing the frequency and severity of my
breakouts. These tips might be things you already do, but if not, these six habits
are just a few simple ways to help cut down your chances of developing breakouts.</span></div>
<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-71057791887911158102018-03-13T11:00:00.000-07:002018-03-13T11:00:09.767-07:00Cris Reads: SCORING OFF THE FIELD (WAGS #2) by Naima Simone<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1opQX8HK2r22dqjBfC2_GN72AYjTwcaBJef3POtKu-Wa4h9HVskgTb6BqNbI8ewfigNWDq5S7myD2uc1QRMVw89y6uG0nvAhkPToRc1I4O3UmKBT0mkt6Wwmo004WaCTPc0Lttstqy2A/s1600/Scoring_off_the_Field.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1opQX8HK2r22dqjBfC2_GN72AYjTwcaBJef3POtKu-Wa4h9HVskgTb6BqNbI8ewfigNWDq5S7myD2uc1QRMVw89y6uG0nvAhkPToRc1I4O3UmKBT0mkt6Wwmo004WaCTPc0Lttstqy2A/s1600/Scoring_off_the_Field.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
<div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<em><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></em></div>
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<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin: 0in 0in 10.5pt;">
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<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 13pt;">Tennyson Clark is getting a life. First step: quitting her job as
assistant to Dominic Anderson, star quarterback for the Washington Warriors,
her best friend...and the man she’s been secretly in love with for years. But
since the gorgeous, if overprotective playboy has only ever seen her as his
BFF, she’s finally ready to relinquish her tattered fantasy and move on. Enter
steps two and three: new job and new man.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
<i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Football
is Dominic's life, and with his contract soon up for renewal, all his focus
needs to be on the game. But Tennyson—dependable, logical Tennyson—is making
that next to impossible with her mysterious new job and her sudden interest in
online dating. He doesn’t do relationships. But the thought of another man
touching her sexier-than-hell curves has him suddenly wanting more from his
best friend.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;">
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<i><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Indulging
in hot, dirty, what’s-my-name sex with no strings and lots of benefits is
simple, uncomplicated...until it’s not.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">I
think this novel really captured the struggle of loving someone who doesn’t
seem capable of loving you back in the way you need. It shows the hard
decisions you need to make and the process of finally learning to put yourself
first. Tenny had spent so much time letting her life revolve around her best
friend, employer and crush and accepting what he was willing to give her. Her deciding
that she needed to take control of her own life and distance herself from the
painful situation is what really disturbs the status quo and gets Dom to see
her as more than just that sad little brown-eyed girl he met in the foster system.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">When
Dom and Tenny finally decide to take their friendship into the bedroom, the sex
is passionate, dirty and addictive. They know it’s a bad idea but it’s
something they just can’t resist. And despite having the whole “<i>this is just sex…we need to make sure we’re
still friends after this</i>” conversation, we know, and I think they do on
some level, that this setup is just going to result in at least one person getting
their heart broken. It takes Dom a little while to realize that Tenny means
more to him than his career ever could but when he finally gets there he’s all
about the romantic gestures and showing her that she’s never been a liability,
but rather an inspiration and guiding force in his life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Both
Tenny and Dom have their own personal scars and emotional struggles. Despite
having always been there for each other, it’s interesting to see how they have to
learn to find their own personal strength and overcome their burdens before they’re
capable of really being together. I loved seeing Tenny make tough decisions and take charge of creating her own happiness. It was pretty empowering and inspiring. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">I
really enjoyed the friendship and group dynamic in this novel. The supporting
characters were great for providing perspective into the couple’s situation and
I actually really enjoyed getting to know their individual personalities. Ronin
sounds like my kind of guy. The author did a great job of making you interested
in the supporting characters and wanting to read more of the series to find out
how some of the other friends find love. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 13pt;">If
you love a protective, athletic hero and a curvy, smart heroine who’s finally
taking control of her life, check out SCORING OFF THE FIELD. </span></div>
</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;">Disclosure: I received an advanced reader's copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 17.12px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b><br />
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone’s love of romance
was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey, Sandra Brown and Linda Howard many years
ago. Well not that many. She is only eighteen…ish. Though her first attempt at
a romance novel starring Ralph Tresvant from New Edition never saw the light of
day, her love of romance, reading and writing has endured. Published since
2009, she spends her days—and nights— writing sizzling romances with a touch of
humor and snark.</span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">She is wife to Superman, or his non-Kryptonian, less bullet
proof equivalent, and mother to the most awesome kids ever. They all live in
perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the southern United States.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://naimasimone.com/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Website</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> ||</b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/naima_simone" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/naimasimoneauthor">Facebook</a> || </b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3232449.Naima_Simone" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-73564288449673205292018-03-12T08:12:00.000-07:002018-03-12T08:12:24.741-07:00Cris Reads: THE FIREFIGHTER'S PERFECT PLAN (Fire & Sparks) by Sonya Weiss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboAn4CNg1vqBgdvP7PJhxu0rMIK1Xw230N8_AmxHZz1wNdUNsRtHhc5QL8hofQgdzbD3WjpvGIwF4T8GBaVAl3oxQPYUZwUa80qNK7wVixL3ieVUjU6t2yxMEnjFhKSyOHF3366XsZiI/s1600/9781640634985.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="363" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgboAn4CNg1vqBgdvP7PJhxu0rMIK1Xw230N8_AmxHZz1wNdUNsRtHhc5QL8hofQgdzbD3WjpvGIwF4T8GBaVAl3oxQPYUZwUa80qNK7wVixL3ieVUjU6t2yxMEnjFhKSyOHF3366XsZiI/s1600/9781640634985.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Josie Moore is in big trouble. After a few too
many glasses of wine and tired of her mother’s constant disappointment, Josie
tells what she thinks is a harmless lie—that she is sort of in a relationship
with her childhood crush, firefighter Lincoln Bradford. The lie comes back to
bite her when her mother moves back to town, and now Josie has to make the
fantasy a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Lincoln
has a perfect plan to protect his heart—and rule number one is: don’t fall in
love. There’s no such thing as happily ever after, especially when it comes to
love. But he didn’t factor in Josie, his sister’s quirky, gorgeous best friend.
He agrees to help her, with the understanding that they’re definitely not going
to be anything more.</span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">But
every time they try to break up, they only end up tangled deeper together.
Lincoln’s carefully laid plans are about to come crashing down...</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">It
all starts with an innocent little lie designed to get Josie’s mother off her
back. When her mother abruptly decides to move back to town and her little white
lie becomes town gossip, Josie convinces Lincoln, her best friend’s brother and
resident firefighter hottie, to play along and act as her fake boyfriend until they
can stage a breakup. She’s always had an enormous crush on Linc but has never
acted on the feelings. But when her little lie begins to grow and all their
opportunities to break up seem to be thwarted, their <i>real</i> feelings can no longer be denied, and their perfect plan goes
out the window. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">After
Linc’s breakup with his ex, he just couldn’t stomach going through the pain of
loving someone and not being enough again. So, to shelter his heart, he comes
up with the perfect plan to keep his heart safe – never fall in love. Especially
not with his sister’s best friend who has always been a special part of his
life. But when their fake relationship turns into a fake engagement and real
emotions get thrown into the mix, both Linc and Josie learn that sometimes the
best parts of life happen beyond your reckless point. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">I
really enjoyed Linc and Josie’s friendship and banter. The back and forth and
the way in which the lovers get to explore aspects of the relationship in a way
they normally wouldn’t is part of what makes pretend relationships one of my
favorite romance tropes. Despite there not being any sexual encounters in the
novel, I think the author did an amazing job of keeping you excited by the
budding romance and invested in seeing how it turns out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Probably
one of my favorite parts of the novel was the important role which family
played in the story. Josie is already an honorary member of the family, even
before dating Linc, and it’s adorable to see how <i>enthusiastic</i> his mother and grandmother are about the relationship.
I adored Grandma Jean and her sassy words of wisdom. The whole family dynamic really
gives this story some dimension and makes me eager to read more books in this
series. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">If
you love sassy, matchmaking relatives, fake relationship and best friend’s
brother tropes and a sweet, family-oriented hero, THE FIREFIGHTER’S PERFECT
PLAN needs to be added to your TBR list. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my
honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own.</span></i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Firefighters-Perfect-Plan-Fire-Sparks-ebook/dp/B079Y8MPSB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1520799352&sr=8-1&keywords=the+firefighter%27s+perfect+plan+sonya+weiss&dpID=51CEBV9f0GL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch"><span id="goog_1335914242"></span>Amazon<span id="goog_1335914243"></span></a></b><b> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-firefighters-perfect-plan-sonya-weiss/1128011289;jsessionid=F90C75A9DDD1B9982959BFBD0897371A.prodny_store01-atgap11?ean=9781640634985&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc">B & N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-firefighter-s-perfect-plan">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781640634985&c=books">Google Play</a></b><u></u></span></div>
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<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;">Sonya Weiss is a freelance writer, ghostwriter and author.
She's addicted to great books, good movies, and Italian chocolates. </span><span style="font-size: 13pt; line-height: 107%;"><br />
<br />
<span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">She's passionate about causes that support abused animals and
children. Her parents always supported her bringing stray animals home although
the Great Dane rescue was a surprise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://sonyaweiss.com/" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">Website</a></b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> ||</b></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/SonyaWeiss" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSonyaWeiss">Facebook</a> || </b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7847942.Sonya_Weiss" style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-68216107410675073002018-03-10T14:52:00.001-08:002018-03-12T05:46:28.613-07:00Do Crystal-Infused Bath Salts Really Work?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRBTrQ5JAePjSqqzUMD3-FbQn4x6Qz89VDwC49JFGvxMGb4G7iJJRpoOyTEjfLM0viv3xWOLv3VqYmUhpgSnEUIeP-Y9N0JrmyVKXQHoB_X5owokN44eiIEOSk-uhGqCYgwwcs_yZooQ/s1600/201803107348721119986736449.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyRBTrQ5JAePjSqqzUMD3-FbQn4x6Qz89VDwC49JFGvxMGb4G7iJJRpoOyTEjfLM0viv3xWOLv3VqYmUhpgSnEUIeP-Y9N0JrmyVKXQHoB_X5owokN44eiIEOSk-uhGqCYgwwcs_yZooQ/s1600/201803107348721119986736449.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ve always been very interested in
the metaphysical and spiritual. In college I had a good friend, Barrett, who
first introduced me to crystal healing, and the believe that crystals and
stones found in nature can act as conduits for healing, enhancing or clearing your
energy. Despite being intrigued, I didn’t really jump into crystals until last year
when researching alternative ways to deal with my stress and anxiety. I think
it’s safe to say I dove in head first, amassing a bit of a crystal collection that
would help with everything from protecting my home to helping me sleep better
at night. For me, the use of crystals (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">certain
ones in particular</i>) has actually really helped when I need a grounding
element or something to help me focus and feel more confident. Who knows, it
might just be a placebo effect, but if it works the way I need it to that’s all
I really care about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The healing power of crystals is
definitely not a new concept but it’s one that seems to be taking the beauty
and wellness community by storm. Everywhere you look these days, more and more
brands are incorporating crystals into their products. Even brands as
mainstream as Bath and Body Works have whole ranges revolving around candles
and body products infused with crystals. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Although I do believe in crystal
healing, I’ve felt both intrigued and skeptical about these products claiming
to be infused with crystals. Part of it seems a bit like just trying to cash in
on a trend and makes me wonder whether there’s even enough of the crystal in
the product to experience the benefits. So, when I came across the <a href="http://www.daylesfordapothecary.com/product/moonstone-bath-soak-900g/">Daylesford Apothecary Moonstone Bath Soak</a> while placing a recent <a href="https://tjmaxx.tjx.com/store/jump/product/Moonstone-Bath-Salt/1000294373?colorId=NS1003538&pos=1:1&Ntt=moonstone">TJ Maxx</a> order, I knew I
wanted to give it a try and see if crystal-infused bath products really work.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">FROM DAYLESFORD APOTHECARY’S
SITE</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">MAGICAL:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">The magic of moonstone is that it brings hope, enhances
feminine energies, sensitivity, intuition and psychic abilities.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">MEDICINAL:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Aids the pituitary gland<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Calms the digestive system<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Decreases emotional stress</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Balances hormonal system</span></div>
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<b style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">MOONSTONE HEALING PROPERTIES</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Balances emotions
and hormones<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Soothes stress<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Connects us to Divine
Inspiration<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Enhances
creativity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Alleviates
nightmares and helps regulate sleep<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Prevents jet lag
and provides safe travel<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">THE PRODUCT ITSELF<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I used these bath salts on three
separate occasions to really try and give them a thorough trial run. Let’s
start with a positive. This clean, minimalistic packaging is adorable, despite
being just a plastic jar. It would look lovely sitting in your bathroom. But one
thing I’ve noticed is that the product has little orange / dark pink chips of salt and
dried blue mallow flowers in it which actually make the whole bathing process a
bit uncomfortable. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">It kind of feels like tiny, little
sharp chips sitting on the bottom of the tub waiting to poke you, and
rehydrated little flowers sticking to your skin and making things a bit itchy. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt;">Plus,
I feel like the salt and magnesium crystals were just way too big, which made them
take </span><i style="font-size: 12pt;">forever</i><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> to dissolve. Each time I used it I sat in a hot bath for over an hour and some of the pieces still hadn't dissolved. In terms of whether it’s an
enjoyable bath soak to use, I wouldn't repurchase it. I’ve used much more comfortable
bath salts that performed better for my needs and were less expensive.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">DID THE MOONSTONE ACTUALLY DO ANYTHING?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A lot of the healing properties of
moonstone have to do with decreasing stress and increasing your intuition. I
feel like bath salts and magnesium crystals on their own have been shown to have
a relaxing and soothing effect on the body. I wouldn’t say that the Moonstone
Bath Soak worked any better in that respect than any other Epsom salt or
magnesium bath soak that I’ve used before. I actually feel like my emotions
were a bit heightened and that I felt more anxious and upset after one of my
baths, which is the opposite of the intended effect. I didn’t notice any changes
to my intuition or psychic abilities, nor any benefits to my digestive system.
I did sleep very well and didn’t experience any nightmares but that isn’t
something I’ve really been struggling with since getting my weighted blanket.
So, did it work? In my opinion, the addition of moonstone to this bath soak
didn’t do anything out of the ordinary for me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">FINAL THOUGHTS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">If you really want the benefits of
moonstone or another crystal in your life, personally, I would just buy a crystal and keep it near or
on me. Many crystals can be placed in water (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">make sure you look it up as some, like Calcite, can dissolve</i>) so
you can just drop them in your tub and reuse them with whichever bath salts you
like. I’ve bathed with my amethyst and clear quartz before and I feel like I
felt much more connected to the crystal energy and more de-stressed than I did
with this bath soak. And despite the packaging looking cute, I’d say just pick
up a cute jar that you love and refill it with bath salts. I’m a big fan of <a href="https://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=dr.+teals&facetedValue=5t4b5&Nao=0">Dr.Teal’s</a>, which comes in a huge variety of scents and only costs about $5 a bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Have you tried using healing crystals?
Is it something you’d be interested in experimenting with? <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i>*Edit - Please note that this post has been updated to reflect additional information provided by Daylesford Apothecary via Instagram. The small pink / orange chips in the soak are actually a high quality pink salt that is sourced from a mine that gives back to the community by building schools for women. They are not pieces of moonstone as I originally assumed due to their not dissolving in my bath. </i></span><br />
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<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-39733672528606945922018-03-05T17:08:00.000-08:002018-03-10T14:53:37.010-08:003 Skin Saviors You Need In Your Life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZJN7jF-sGEjxYyiezwSlxkdUOuKaXWFUt0g1g9XL1Mt83MwaP92btGWSkIGZUcuKxPEQahPl5JQ30X-OCNgMnk7j-sgSV86FsGSbNh_U4XJgq_rPPZFXGAzljuVgMYirNhuhfvHy_Fs/s1600/20180305136073373274862809.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioZJN7jF-sGEjxYyiezwSlxkdUOuKaXWFUt0g1g9XL1Mt83MwaP92btGWSkIGZUcuKxPEQahPl5JQ30X-OCNgMnk7j-sgSV86FsGSbNh_U4XJgq_rPPZFXGAzljuVgMYirNhuhfvHy_Fs/s1600/20180305136073373274862809.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">With all the ways our skin can misbehave and react to
situations, it’s important to have some tried and trusted products in your arsenal
that you know will always have your back. Here are three products that I always
keep handy and rely on to soothe, repair and protect my skin in a pinch.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">BIODERMA
CICABIO CRÈME </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve talked about this cream on my blog before, and with
good reason. I first discovered it while stopping by a pharmacy in Lisbon and
asking for a recommendation on what to use on the sunburn I had gotten walking
around the city all afternoon. I was a bit unsure at first as I had just planned
to get some aloe vera gel, but when the pharmacist sassily said “I could give
you that, but this is way better” I knew I had to give it a try. And I’m so glad
I did!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">This cream has an almost gel-like finish that spreads
and absorbs into the skin so easily. It’s incredibly lightweight, but somehow
packs major healing power. I spread this on my sunburn that day and was actually
able to sleep on my sunburned back and feel comfortable. That stinging feeling
was gone in no time and my skin felt cooler, calmer and replenished. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">The product claims to “…help to maintain the skin it
its optimal environment during its renewing phase” and I’d say that’s
completely accurate. This cream seriously reduces redness, itching and irritation.
Whenever I remove hair on my face, have a negative reaction to a skincare
product or develop a little patch of eczema along my hairline, this is always
the product I reach for to soothe the irritation and repair my skin barrier. This
is one product I will <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">always</i> continue
to repurchase and keep handy for emergencies. And luckily, it’s pretty accessible
and affordable <a href="https://www.beautylish.com/s/bioderma-cicabio-cream">online</a> so you don’t have to trek to Europe to pick one up. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oHolrBIk8o0arXu1daJowWewHCAEenaR1tGqC0h4NAv_R6oQMdVcmED3KbZPgekUHg1d-wno-bYGS3Alc7Zk6Sqcn6lOxE1fN9MetxB2uopiPCIDcuNfs_u6rPrraZrfy04TQUn3-qQ/s1600/201803052497743436517838795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3oHolrBIk8o0arXu1daJowWewHCAEenaR1tGqC0h4NAv_R6oQMdVcmED3KbZPgekUHg1d-wno-bYGS3Alc7Zk6Sqcn6lOxE1fN9MetxB2uopiPCIDcuNfs_u6rPrraZrfy04TQUn3-qQ/s1600/201803052497743436517838795.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p><br /></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">LUCAS’
PAPAW OINTMENT</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Lucas’ Papaw Ointment was something I had always heard
people in the beauty community talk about but never really tried until my
brother developed some eczema on his hand and I picked up a tube hoping it
could help. The product claims to relieve and cleanse a huge range of concerns including
burns, boils, chafing, cuts, cracked skin and open wounds. Though it did help replenish
his skin, I noticed that where this thick, clear balm really excels is on dry,
cracked lips. It really coats your lips and creates a sort of ‘barrier of
hydration’ that isn’t quickly absorbed and provides lasting protection. It
soothes the sting and leaves my lips feeling soft and smooth. If you constantly
suffer from chapped lips, I’d recommend picking up a tube from </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lucas-668680-Papaw-Ointment-25g/dp/B0076K07DC?th=1" style="font-family: "Lato Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">Amazon</a><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> and
keeping it on hand.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;">BIAFINE
EMULSION</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">I’ve heard so much hype around this product over the
years, with both celebrities and beauty gurus giving it holy grail status. When
I spotted it in a pharmacy in Portugal I knew I needed to pick up a tube and
see if the hype was real. This French medicine cabinet staple is a white, plant-based
cream with a soft, plant-like scent, that feels thicker and heavier than Bioderma’s
Cicabio Crème but almost in a more healing, more protective sort of way. This
product actually </span><i style="font-family: "Lato Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">feels</i><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> like an
all-purpose treatment - like you’re doing something to actually </span><i style="font-family: "Lato Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">treat</i><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> your skin. Since I have oily, acne-prone
skin it’s not the kind of thing I put on my face (</span><i style="font-family: "Lato Light", sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">though many people do and rave about it)</i><span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"> but for cracked, parched
skin on my body or burns and cuts, it’s my go-to skin soother.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Quick tip: I like to run any excess product left over
on my cuticles to keep them from looking dry and cracking. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s really hard to find this in the states
and the price tends to be ridiculous online, but if you or anyone you know is
heading to Europe anytime soon you can pick up a tube of this for about €9 and
keep it in your medicine cabinet for whenever your skin needs some saving. Trust
me, you’ll instantly feel like a chic, carefree, French girl. And who doesn’t
want that? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "lato light" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;">What are some of your go-to skin saviors you reach for
when your skin needs some healing? Have you tried any of these? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-14141841268319835762018-02-27T12:50:00.000-08:002018-03-02T19:23:50.723-08:00Removing Makeup & Treating Stressed Skin: Benton Tea Tree Cleansing Water<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tYxuWC0vPfk35gzZ6ypNGQlvqLt08I1pfQQFjhNE5YXFIPpv1yPHiBWhrGfWJFBHxdQJM7jMr9pDlYPUuy_7QnvauQ10pSTj7zxbr21nAUd9bKh5AiIg8hrYQlZiUL5KvLZ1uAgWeSs/s1600/Facetune-20180227496873587802145759.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-tYxuWC0vPfk35gzZ6ypNGQlvqLt08I1pfQQFjhNE5YXFIPpv1yPHiBWhrGfWJFBHxdQJM7jMr9pDlYPUuy_7QnvauQ10pSTj7zxbr21nAUd9bKh5AiIg8hrYQlZiUL5KvLZ1uAgWeSs/s1600/Facetune-20180227496873587802145759.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Let's
face it, taking off your makeup is never fun. But a few years back
when I first discovered micellar water, it was like a weight was
lifted. A non-greasy, simple way to remove your makeup that feels
like just rubbing water on your face? I was hooked. Since then, I've
tried different types and a few different brands but somewhere along
the way I got distracted by dabbling in cleansing balms and oils. But
I'm officially back on the cleansing water kick and my current
favorite is the <a href="http://bentoncosmetics.com/product/benton-tea-tree-cleansing-water-200ml/92/?cate_no=67&display_group=1">Benton Tea Tree Cleansing Water</a>*.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If
you've been following my blog for a while you know I'm a big fan of
some of Benton's other skincare products, mainly their BHA Aloe Skin
Toner and Snail Bee High Content Essence. Benton is a Korean brand
that prides themselves on using naturally derived ingredients. Their
Tea Tree Cleansing Water is infused with Tea Tree Leaf Water and Tea
Tree Leaf Oil and is free of PEGs, sulfates, fragrance and colorants.
One thing I absolutely love about this brand is that they don't skimp
on quality ingredients. Seventy percent of this product is Tea Tree
Leaf Water and there are only ten ingredients total used in the whole
product. I like knowing that the ingredients are clean and that they
aren't just adding a bunch of filler into their skincare. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I
love using tea tree oil on my skin because it has amazing skin
soothing and antibacterial properties that really help if your skin
tends to become congested or blemish-prone. Having tea tree mixed in
with my cleansing water makes me feel like I'm not only removing my
makeup but I'm actually treating and purifying my skin. Plus, tea
tree oil can be a bit harsh on its own so including a milder form in
with a cleansing water is probably easier on sensitive skin. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This
product can be used to either remove makeup or as a morning cleanse.
I like to put some on a cotton round and wipe it across my face to
remove my face makeup. I tend to use a different makeup remover for
my eye makeup as I always wear water-proof mascara. The cleansing
water removes my makeup easily, without causing any tingling or
redness. I did try using it once as a morning cleanse but I prefer
using it to remove my makeup instead. It doesn't leave your skin
feeling greasy but I still use my normal cream cleanser after to
really deep clean my skin, as I would with any other makeup remover. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">All
in all, I feel like this has been doing a great job of removing my
makeup and really appreciate the additional purification of having
tea tree oil included in this step of my skincare routine. It makes
me feel like I'm not just removing the makeup from the surface but
really treating my pores and making sure they're cleansed. If you
have oily, acne-prone or environmentally stressed skin and are looking for
a way to remove your makeup while purifying your skin with
naturally-derived ingredients, this is a great product to try. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>*Product
was provided by Benton for review purposes. All thoughts and opinions
shared are entirely my own. </i></span></span></span>
</div>
<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-6182661572856526722018-02-23T13:57:00.001-08:002018-03-02T19:23:51.015-08:00A Skincare And Makeup Hybrid For Redness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D_JhISlwqlQOtYH-_nOwSIwFDwXocVrsNHfFCJnzbnl6prTMVow57qz0yM_yLXJVaG58prRxe5K1Jq5AWhLRwCu5sxu355eDlinSj4Rs3urFpWFDUouGTEmBZUT8L3AINIEK_Gdmzy4/s1600/201802235539771701417885762-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8D_JhISlwqlQOtYH-_nOwSIwFDwXocVrsNHfFCJnzbnl6prTMVow57qz0yM_yLXJVaG58prRxe5K1Jq5AWhLRwCu5sxu355eDlinSj4Rs3urFpWFDUouGTEmBZUT8L3AINIEK_Gdmzy4/s1600/201802235539771701417885762-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Never
in my history as a beauty enthusiast has it been so hard to really
decide how I feel about a product as it has been with the <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/cicapair-tiger-grass-color-correcting-treatment-spf-30-P411540?skuId=1855709&icid2=products%20grid:p411540">Dr. JartTiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment</a>. Seriously, it's been a real
struggle. I purchased this product over a year ago – <i>yep, you
read that right</i> – upon the recommendation of a sales associate
at Sephora. She was color matching me to a foundation I wanted at the
time and noticed that I had a good amount of redness in my skin,
which I do. She described it as an amazing treatment that worked
great as a primer and would counteract the redness while actually
working to treat the cause. She also mentioned that it would help
protect against environmental aggressors and pollution while also
providing an SPF of 30, so I was pretty much sold. At $52, the price
was more than I would ever really spend on something like this but I
read some reviews and decided to pick it up during the VIB sale with
my discount. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Now,
contrary to what the lovely sales associate claimed, I would never
use this as a primer, nor would I recommend that anyone else do so.
The product is a thick, green-tinted cream that when blended into the
skin slowly adjusts to your skin tone. It comes in a pretty hefty
glass pot with a little spatula to keep things hygienic. The cream
has a slightly herbal scent but it's pretty mild and natural. I'd
recommend using a very light hand with the treatment as you don't
really realize how much actual coverage the product has until it has
fully adapted to your skin, which can take up to 20 minutes. And I
will tell you, the coverage is pretty shocking. I'd say it's at least
a medium, even if you use a very tiny amount of product. I tend to
use this in lieu of foundation on days when I'm just running some
errands and don't want anything too crazy. I'll apply a tiny bit all
over my face and blend it in with my fingertips. I even put my normal
concealer, bronzer and powders over it and it really does act like a
foundation. My pores, which are always huge, even look smaller and
glazed over with this product. And I've even found that when I do
take my makeup off at the end of the day, my skin actually looks
better. Like the treatment actually did <i>treat</i> my skin. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Sounds
awesome so far, right? Well, here are the problems.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscVwMCEZgcCgTKSrFuna4rPIZ8B8LXQDPVFNcAZEicDFc7bjuRk6gk0HIrQfOcqY3kpaHzuMod89OEbQNhEU2SXCkgEDHghF0AKu-Ky5jNiLW-JrtBv51PgrYvKGeo4GPSjxff9v8m0s/s1600/201802236277811526112278565-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhscVwMCEZgcCgTKSrFuna4rPIZ8B8LXQDPVFNcAZEicDFc7bjuRk6gk0HIrQfOcqY3kpaHzuMod89OEbQNhEU2SXCkgEDHghF0AKu-Ky5jNiLW-JrtBv51PgrYvKGeo4GPSjxff9v8m0s/s1600/201802236277811526112278565-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">This
stuff feels thick and heavy on the skin. Like you can really feel it
on your face...almost like a mask. But in spite of the heaviness it
doesn't actually provide hydration. You most definitely need to
moisturize before applying this, and that's coming from an
oily-skinned girl. I had such a hard time trying to figure out which
skin type this would work best on. At first I thought it would be
awesome for dry skin but this stuff really does catch on any dry
patches you might have and emphasizes them. So, then I thought it
must be better for oily skin, but there's a bit of innate greasiness
to the formula and it can become an oil slick if you don't blot
consistently throughout the day. I'm an eyeglass wearer and even if I
powder my skin the product completely disappears from the areas
around the bridge of my nose.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">So,
all in all, I still don't know how to feel about this product. I
think it really does help repair my skin and clearly counteracts and
covers my redness but it just ends up looking like a patchy, shiny
mess that emphasizes dryness on the sides of my face and feels
anything but lightweight. I think I'll probably continue to use it on
days when I'm just running errands and it isn't too hot out, reducing
the chances of getting <i>really</i> shiny. It's not the kind of
thing I'd want to wear for a full work day because of the heaviness
and shininess. But if I just plan to wear it for about five hours it
holds up pretty well and I do like the finish and coverage. The
product cost me a pretty penny so I will continue to use it but can't
really recommend it because I don't know who I'd recommend it to. I
definitely won't be repurchasing. I know some people swear by this
product so if you do want to give it a try they now make a miniature
jar that's just $18.</span></span></span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Do
you suffer from redness? What products do use to counteract it? Let
me know in the comments below. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-92116404714395044152018-02-21T12:01:00.000-08:002018-03-02T19:24:25.468-08:00KISS ME, SWEETHEART (Something Borrowed #2) by Codi Gary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOSDhKGF-B1fpi5tN7rudWZtNjZEuIc-1vXgmP3ZsXWiTds0URmG0c77SKGm-5wHvTtFlhyphenhyphena0WPo1rHpaLxaYgB7dn9Cr7h0TVik7qzDnRzP7lki0EPNgajEiXn2MG2ioj0948PBOkIk/s1600/kiss-me-sweetheart-2_1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="660" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOSDhKGF-B1fpi5tN7rudWZtNjZEuIc-1vXgmP3ZsXWiTds0URmG0c77SKGm-5wHvTtFlhyphenhyphena0WPo1rHpaLxaYgB7dn9Cr7h0TVik7qzDnRzP7lki0EPNgajEiXn2MG2ioj0948PBOkIk/s1600/kiss-me-sweetheart-2_1_orig.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><b>The
bridesmaids and groomsmen for hire at Sweetheart, California’s
Something Borrowed have the cure for celebrity wedding headaches. But
even a job that’s strictly business can lead to the real thing . .
.</b></span></i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><b>RULE
#2: DON’T UPSTAGE THE BRIDE AND GROOM</b></span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><i><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Rylie
Templeton had big dreams, until she quit culinary school to take care
of her father and signed on with Something Borrowed. Suddenly years
have gone by and she’s still a bridesmaid-for-hire, with her idea
to open a gourmet bakery on the back burner. Scoring a high-profile
wedding could help turn her life around, if only she didn’t have to
share the spotlight with her coworker, the insufferable—and
undeniably gorgeous—Dustin Kent.</span></i></span></span></span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i><br /></i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Instructed
to make it work, Rylie plunges into the wedding festivities with
Dustin by her side. If only she could convince him to turn his
spectacular charm on someone else! But the enigmatic, reformed
playboy has his own ideas about romance, and they all include Rylie.
As the nuptials get closer, Rylie realizes that Dustin’s wooing is
actually working, and that the two of them might make a good team in
more ways than one . . .</i></span></span></span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I
was first introduced to Dustin in the first book in the Something
Borrowed series, DON'T CALL ME SWEETHEART and honestly, I wasn't very
intrigued by the idea of him finding love. He was an arrogant,
entitled millionaire who was more than a bit of a manwhore. Some bits
of that jackassery can still be found in the beginning of KISS ME,
SWEETHEART, but when you start to see what has made him the way he is
and the way in which he grows to care for Rylie, you kind of fall for
the whole package anyway. You see a very different side of Dustin –
one with deep scars and a kind, generous heart. And somehow, the
progression from jerk to book boyfriend seems incredibly natural. He
won me over more and more with every sweet thing he did for Rylie and
his flirtatious attitude became much more adorable when he stopped
being indiscriminate with his attention and realized the only woman
he wanted to get closer to was Rylie. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Some
characters might think of Rylie as a doormat who puts up with abuse
and lets people walk all over her because she wants people to like
her. I wouldn't characterize her in that way at all. She's kind and
loving but she doesn't let Dustin's charm or good looks go to her
head like most women in town. She has serious dreams she wants to
accomplish and a future she's trying to build. Yes, she was in an
abusive relationship but she made the decision on her own that it was
time to leave, not knowing where she was going to live. I think
that's incredibly brave. She isn't afraid to speak up for her
creative ideas with clients and even defends herself physically when
she needs to. I think Rylie has too much flair to ever be considered
a doormat. </span></span></span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I
loved that there was a bit of conflict thrown into the story to help
bring the characters together. It wasn't just emotional scars and
insecurities being used over and over again to create drama like you
find in some novels. That push and pull between the lovers can become
a bit exhausting if it's reused too often. Rylie and Dustin have a
lot going on in their lives which keeps things interesting but it
always feels natural and like it really fits into the story and who
they are. It's not just tacked on as filler. I totally misjudged the
twist in the story and was actually still genuinely surprised by who
was creating all the drama. </span></span></span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I
seriously loved reading Dustin and Rylie's story. I still think that
the idea for a series that revolves around a bridesmaid rental
service is a brilliant one and offers infinite possibilities. I loved
getting to see Rylie and Dustin work together on the planning process
and being forced to live with each other as well. It gave you so many
opportunities to see them interact and grow closer, which I think is
part of what made the transition in their relationship so seamless.</span></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">If
you're looking for a sexy contemporary romance but love 'the reformed
rake' trope, KISS ME, SWEETHEART has your name written all over it.
It's sweet, fun and an absolute pleasure to read. I couldn't put it
down and I'm seriously hoping that this will become an eight book
series. At the moment I'm really excited to see Charlie, Dustin's
brother, fall in love and fall <i>hard</i>. Can you please get on
that, Codi?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - LINKS TO PURCHASE - </span></b></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div class="western" style="line-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kiss-Me-Sweetheart-Something-Borrowed-ebook/dp/B0711PMKNM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519242419&sr=8-1&keywords=kiss+me+sweetheart+codi"><span id="goog_1335914242"></span>Amazon<span id="goog_1335914243"></span></a></b><b> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/kiss-me-sweetheart-codi-gary/1126399451?ean=9781516102327">B & N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/kiss-me-sweetheart">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Codi_Gary_Kiss_Me_Sweetheart?id=1jLcDgAAQBAJ">Google Play</a></b><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - ADD TO <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35387467-kiss-me-sweetheart?from_search=true">GOODREADS</a> -</span></b><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnQVJdgEJknXfbEcZD2R5f6cHRcDKB_Rv8KMClC4SBXi6mD2_NI70IHtFEgIE6GaIkIYFZmQj0j7GRCUklkq-mPqjqFmjuYBhF0Ub9MIlQJ_TeDmf1Mxk7e2IJxyy-P8aWWBy4bxQ6vE/s1600/Codi+Gary+Author+Photo+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRnQVJdgEJknXfbEcZD2R5f6cHRcDKB_Rv8KMClC4SBXi6mD2_NI70IHtFEgIE6GaIkIYFZmQj0j7GRCUklkq-mPqjqFmjuYBhF0Ub9MIlQJ_TeDmf1Mxk7e2IJxyy-P8aWWBy4bxQ6vE/s200/Codi+Gary+Author+Photo+%25281%2529.jpg" width="133" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: normal;"></b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: normal;"><b style="line-height: normal;"></b></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b></span></span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An obsessive bookworm, CODI GARY likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.codigarysbooks.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Website</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/CodiGarysBooks"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Facebook</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/CodiGary"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583366.Codi_Gary"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></span></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-48381801139508026442018-02-12T09:50:00.000-08:002018-03-02T19:24:25.220-08:00PLAYING HOUSE (Sydney Smoke Rugby #5) by Amy Andrews<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz5StUOOqlMCPTisGlGqA8YxTfy4qkR8emt0d3OkXGcDLbdxdriYpXFd2MR9ZtevNDSw5oW-hr5zNx1XFFcUHXfLS2kz4U876tcii79xD8s80Eq95H74ZQt5vtL_iWH3kDTvch_gAzBY/s1600/38103780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="475" data-original-width="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdz5StUOOqlMCPTisGlGqA8YxTfy4qkR8emt0d3OkXGcDLbdxdriYpXFd2MR9ZtevNDSw5oW-hr5zNx1XFFcUHXfLS2kz4U876tcii79xD8s80Eq95H74ZQt5vtL_iWH3kDTvch_gAzBY/s1600/38103780.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Eleanor
is content with her boring life—mostly. She’s even fine being the
quirky sister in a bevy of beauties. So imagine her surprise when one
of her brother’s Sydney Smoke mates hits on her at an engagement
party. Her. The weird sister, who wears vintage dresses and prefers
her books to parties.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">Bodie
is shocked the next morning to find the soft, sexy virgin who seduced
him with corsets is his best friend’s little sister. If he could
kick his own ass, he would. And two months later, she’s got an even
bigger surprise for him. Now he needs to convince the corset-loving
wallflower that he loves her uniqueness if they’ve got a chance at
forever.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">He
always did love a challenge…</span> </span></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Let
me just start by saying how much I absolutely adored PLAYING HOUSE.
This book pulled me in from the very start and I devoured it in just
a few hours. 'Brother's Best Friend' is one of my favorite romance
tropes and I feel like it was handled so well. Just the right amount
of family drama but not enough to detract from the blossoming
relationship between Eleanor and Bodie. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">What
starts as a passionate one-night stand progresses in a really natural
way, despite some unusual circumstances, into more than just lust. I
loved how easily Bodie and Eleanor could tease and laugh together
both inside and outside of the bedroom. Those gentler, sweeter
moments enrich the story just as much as the hot, steamy sex scenes.
And trust me, things get pretty scorching when these two get in a
room together.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">My
favorite part of the whole novel was how wonderfully it married
together Victorian sensibilities with the struggles of modern dating.
Eleanor is an Austen-loving romantic who always held onto the hope
that her Mr. Darcy would one day come along. She lives and breathes
Victorian fashion, running her own online business and creating
replicas of nineteenth century garments. She's an old soul at heart,
and has always been made to feel like the socially awkward girl who
doesn't quite belong in her time. Being a big fan of historical
romances and Austen, I really felt a kinship with Eleanor. It's hard
sometimes to reconcile your love of romance and old fashioned
courtship with the realities of modern dating. “<i>She was a
nineteenth-century wallflower trapped in the age of Tinder</i>”.
Boy, do I feel you on that one, Eleanor. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">Bodie,
despite being a professional rugby player who can get any girl he
wants, really embraces those parts of Eleanor's personality, and her
curvy body, which have always made her feel out of place. He wants
<i>her</i> – no one else. And words can't describe how incredibly
adorable and sexy it is that he discovers a proclivity for Victorian
ruffled undergarments when most guys would prefer skimpy lace thongs.
In a world that's always told Eleanor she's quirky and weird for her
old fashioned sensibilities and her romanticism, Bodie appreciates
how special those things really are and dives in head first. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">I
could go on and on about how supportive and sweet Bodie is and how
sexy I find his dirty mouth but I'd rather leave that up to you to
discover for yourself. Suffice it to say, I really fell for both
Eleanor and Bodie and would love to read more in this series! </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;">If
you love a shy, curvy, wallflower heroine and a brawny hero who
embraces all the quirky, romantic, old-fashioned parts of her, this
is one you can't miss! It's the perfect blend of historical and
contemporary romance – for the reader who has always felt a bit
like they were born in the wrong century. I'm all for finding my
Mr. Darcy...but I wouldn't mind at all if he were a bit more like Bodie. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Disclosure:
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All
thoughts and opinions shared are my own.</i></span></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - LINKS TO PURCHASE - </span></b></b></span></div>
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<div class="western" style="line-height: 16px;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Playing-House-Sydney-Smoke-Rugby-ebook/dp/B0796X8GFY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1518455543&sr=8-2&keywords=amy+andrews+playing+house&dpID=51IrYcJq1FL&preST=_SY445_QL70_&dpSrc=srch"><span id="goog_1335914242"></span>Amazon<span id="goog_1335914243"></span></a></b><b> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/playing-house-amy-andrews/1127870260;jsessionid=77D769D26EC285A4389C5512200B873C.prodny_store02-atgap01?ean=9781640633902&st=AFF&2sid=Goodreads,%20Inc_2227948_NA&sourceId=AFFGoodreads,%20Inc">B & N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/playing-house-18">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Amy_Andrews_Playing_House?id=5lpIDwAAQBAJ">Google Play</a></b><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - ADD TO <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/38103780-playing-house?from_search=true">GOODREADS</a> -</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFShkrUOeU2ZnLQUeFD0hbVWobq_BdvFslGXQVWOoTm5348qWwqsYdebkL76QOeTGd_AZnIX2sIysc4jLjBBatvZQrVUhxErFN1mxQvkxkSuSev1WvIxI3D8m2hgD0wPYRH5v-PtDq8jw/s1600/biopic2014_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="248" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFShkrUOeU2ZnLQUeFD0hbVWobq_BdvFslGXQVWOoTm5348qWwqsYdebkL76QOeTGd_AZnIX2sIysc4jLjBBatvZQrVUhxErFN1mxQvkxkSuSev1WvIxI3D8m2hgD0wPYRH5v-PtDq8jw/s200/biopic2014_1.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Amy
is an award-winning, USA Today best-selling Aussie author who has
written sixty plus contemporary romances in both the traditional and
digital markets. She’s sold 2.6 million books and been translated
into over a dozen languages including manga. Her books bring all the
feels from sass and quirk and laughter to emotional grit to
panty-melting heat. Yes, her books feature lots of sex and kissing.
You probably shouldn’t try one if you think that stuff belongs
behind a closed door. Amy rips the door right off. She loves good
books and great booze although she'll take mediocre booze if there's
nothing else. </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><span style="color: black;">At sixteen she met a guy she knew she was going to
marry and, several years later, she did. They have two grown kids who
have flown the coop for distant shores which is awesome because now
she has a good excuse to travel. For many, many years she was a
registered nurse. Which means she knows things. Anatomical things.
And she’s not afraid to use them! She lives on acreage on the
outskirts of Brisbane with a gorgeous mountain view but secretly
wishes it was the hillsides of Tuscany.</span></span> </span></span>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://amyandrews.com.au/"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Website</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> ||</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><b> </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/AmyAndrewsbooks"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1128457.Amy_Andrews"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></span></span></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-29633496498277214222017-12-21T09:44:00.000-08:002018-03-02T19:24:25.146-08:00Scented Candles For Book Lovers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2S1y5bXTWOw0B8IkkjrxPRkVjbA98rqRtLsiB-kb81C04R0FS3hK9UzvjZ_xAjBxjSX9j7WS_or3mrZZt7mL8PWJZ8bhk68Hb2-0iopunYlRhB-ezPaf5OtifO8dHjNUytUmiH4niXw/s1600/IMG_3290-01-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP2S1y5bXTWOw0B8IkkjrxPRkVjbA98rqRtLsiB-kb81C04R0FS3hK9UzvjZ_xAjBxjSX9j7WS_or3mrZZt7mL8PWJZ8bhk68Hb2-0iopunYlRhB-ezPaf5OtifO8dHjNUytUmiH4niXw/s1600/IMG_3290-01-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Being
both an avid reader and a candle lover, nothing makes me happier than
the idea of bringing both of those worlds together. I usually have a
candle burning in the background while I dive into a new book and I
feel like it really adds a nice, cozy ambiance to the experience. I
recently got to try some soy candles from </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/ChiCandle?ref=l2-shopheader-name" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chi Candle</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> made especially
with book lovers in mind and have been burning them off and on for
the last few weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/230522801/new-books-85-oz-book-lovers-soy-candle?ref=shop_home_feat_4">New Books</a>*</i> is a candle designed to smell like and invoke the feeling
of cracking open a new book. This candle is describes as “<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>A
blend of crisp pages, ambered glue, and fresh ink, and a touch of
cedarwood and driftwood...</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">”.
</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">If
the idea of having your home smell like a book seems a bit weird, let
me reassure you. </span>It was surprisingly very fresh
and clean smelling, while actually still reminding me of a freshly
printed novel. I don't know how exactly they found that balance but
it totally does work as a scent that I would want to have in my home.
It's an airier scent that's not overwhelmed by the notes of
woodiness, but rather grounded by them. </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTZYge5CjZUrGJBlbosSgTfxcaZB2bhzHVnfsZjX2RlRQHOOZ0Mks7Ufb8jU3hzdtM8CVHNO0-lf0gZQWOboT6X0XC6d9g-UiwBi8eCJ2wFmpviT_ydYIwLOnE88jk_4vMx93z_S-hrg/s1600/IMG_3276-01-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqTZYge5CjZUrGJBlbosSgTfxcaZB2bhzHVnfsZjX2RlRQHOOZ0Mks7Ufb8jU3hzdtM8CVHNO0-lf0gZQWOboT6X0XC6d9g-UiwBi8eCJ2wFmpviT_ydYIwLOnE88jk_4vMx93z_S-hrg/s1600/IMG_3276-01-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/120837059/old-books-85-oz-book-lovers-soy-candle?ref=listing-shop-header-0"><br />
</a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/120837059/old-books-85-oz-book-lovers-soy-candle?ref=listing-shop-header-0">O</a></i><i><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/120837059/old-books-85-oz-book-lovers-soy-candle?ref=listing-shop-header-0">ld Books</a>*</i> on the other hand, is made for those who love the smells
of an old library. It's described as “<span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>A
woody, soft and lovely fragrance with notes of aged paper, aged
leather, and a touch of wooden bookshelf, softened with subtle notes
of sandalwood</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">”.
</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">This
scent is like the more experienced, more worldly older sister </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">of</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>New
Books</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">.
There's still that underlying fresh scent that you find in the other
candle, but with a woodier, mus</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">k</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ier
fragrance that totally reminds me of being in a cozy leather wingback
chair and cracking open a dusty, well-loved tome. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">O</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">ne
thing I really loved about these candles is the adorable hand-blown
apothecary bottles that they come in. I think the design is timeless
and clean, yet really suits the book lover vibe they were going for.
It's easily something that would fit the décor in any home. I was
also pleasantly surprised with how much scent these candles actually
throw off. </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">They
really fill the room with scent.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">If
you're a book lover like myself and enjoy the unmistakable </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">fragrances</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
that accompany them, these candles might be for you. They make the
reading experience all the cozier, while leaving your home smelling
great. Chi Candle also has a few other scents tailored </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">to</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
book lovers, like </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Bookstore</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
and </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Rainy
Day Reads</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">.
</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Rainy
Day Read</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">s
is definitely calling my name because to me there's no better time to
read than on a dreary, stormy evening. If you're not as keen on
having your home smell like books, they also have a wide </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">selection</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
of scents to satisfy all kinds of tastes. I'm a bit of a candle
addict and </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Mediterranean
Fig – Teakwood</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">,
</span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Cozy
Village</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">,
and </span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Sage
& Lemongrass</i></span><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;">
sound right up my alley. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If
you have a book lover or candle addict in your life, go check out Chi
Candles. I think they'd make a lovely holiday or birthday gift. </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal;"><i>Disclosure:
I received the products marked with an * free of charge in exchange
for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared in this review
are entirely my own.</i></span></span></span></div>
Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-23278849559947379472017-12-14T15:53:00.001-08:002018-03-02T19:24:25.062-08:0011 Things I Learned In My First Two Months On Keto<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQYCU5onLXx5IV97SS7vM26WkDdhobKIvN-U2YW91YtUkfdz6t4AJ1ITZRzUpfZNBPppylzkqscliL_AOQj9KtxPak8ntHhV5p1B6KM_nYaFaUQi1r1iTdZYpGCXj9cKpXF8M_GapEPQ/s1600/IMG_3181-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQYCU5onLXx5IV97SS7vM26WkDdhobKIvN-U2YW91YtUkfdz6t4AJ1ITZRzUpfZNBPppylzkqscliL_AOQj9KtxPak8ntHhV5p1B6KM_nYaFaUQi1r1iTdZYpGCXj9cKpXF8M_GapEPQ/s1600/IMG_3181-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two
months ago, after deciding that with my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday
coming up next year it was finally time to get serious about my
health and my goals, I (<i>along with my mom</i>) decided to go on
the Ketogenic Diet. The Ketogenic Diet, or Keto Diet, is a low-carb,
moderate-protein, high-fat diet where you essentially retrain your
body to burn fat for energy instead of glucose. I won't go into major
details about what the diet is or how it really works because I'm
definitely not an expert. But if you are interested in learning more
there are tons of websites and resources online that will explain it
much better than I can. What I want to talk about in this post are
the things I've learned since starting Keto. It's been an interesting
two months to say the least, but I feel like I've learned so much
about my body and what I'm capable of. In these past eight weeks I've
gained a whole new awareness of my relationship with food and feel
like I've gained so much along with losing 15lbs. Here are eleven
things I learned in my first two months on Keto:</span></div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>To
Forget What I've Been Taught About Dieting</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Most
people will tell you that to lose weight and live a healthy lifestyle
you need to incorporate more fruits and veggies and less fats into
your diet. While that might work for some people, there can be a
tremendous amount of carbs and sugar in fruit and some so-called
healthier foods. The Keto diet is about teaching your body to burn
fat for energy instead of sugars and carbs. It means that you can
have bacon, butter and cheese but not oranges or potatoes. That might
sound counter-intuitive to some people and my first instinct was to
not go too crazy on fats. It just felt...weird. Like I was doing
something bad. But eventually you learn to forget what you've been
told about what is “healthy” partially through doing lots of
research for yourself and partially through results. Don't get me
wrong, I still try to incorporate as many non-starchy vegetables in
my diet as possible because they're crucial for nutrients and I just
enjoy them. But learning to change your mindset about what is “good”
and what is “bad” does take a bit of time. </span>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Tracking
What You Eat Makes Things Much Simpler</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Trying
to count carbs and make sure that everything I eat in a day stays
under 20g of net carbs would be much harder if I had to calculate
everything in my head. I began using the MyFitnessPal app when I
started Keto and it's been a godsend when it comes to keeping track
of what I'm eating and where I stand for the day. I thought it might
feel very tedious to track all of my meals but it really only takes a
second and I feel like I'm so much more aware of what I'm putting in
my body now and what my portions should really be like. I feel like
portion sizes are something people constantly overlook and I was a
big offender before starting Keto. Tracking also helps keep me
accountable. I know that if I have a snack or have an extra piece of
something I'm going to have to account for that. It's greatly helped
me cut down on my propensity for snacking.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Weigh
Yourself, Even If You Hate To</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm
the kind of person who absolutely hates stepping on a scale. I guess
most people are like that really. No one wants to be confronted by a
number that often dictates how they feel about their body and
sometimes even their self-worth. For me, wanting to lose weight has
always been more about how I wanted to feel in my clothing and in my
skin, and just being healthier rather than reaching a certain goal
number. So, for the longest time, even if I was trying to lose weight
and working out I never weighed myself. And although that's a
personal preference, here's why I should have just weighed myself
anyway. Weighing yourself at the start and periodically throughout
any weight loss journey is important because it helps you gauge
progress. Even if you don't care a lot about the actual numbers,
seeing the number actually go down gives you a little thrill and a
burst of encouragement. Another reason why weighing yourself is
important is because most tracking apps use your weight to gauge
progress or to establish how much you should be eating in a day. The
reason I actually initially weighed myself was to calculate how many
grams of carbs, protein and fat I should be eating in a day on Keto
and to set up my MyFitnessPal account. Trust me, even if you really
don't want to track the numbers, it'll really help give you
perspective and a more tangible idea of how your body is changing.
And if it seems like the numbers aren't changing at the rate that you
want, don't get discouraged. Sometimes the scale won't move. But that
doesn't mean the changes aren't happening. Trust your body.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Don't
Compare Yourself To Others</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's
easy to look at Keto forums and blogs, see all these amazing success
stories and imagine that you'll be losing 30lbs in your first month.
I'm sure for some people that does happen. But you have to take into
consideration that person's starting point and acknowledge that every
body is different. I've been on Keto for 2 months now and have lost a
total of 15lbs. It's not a tremendous amount. But I see the changes
in my body, feel how loose my clothes have become and how things that
didn't fit me before can now be buttoned easily. It might not be the
same amount that some other people are losing, but the point is I AM
LOSING WEIGHT. I focus on that wonderful detail and the fact that I
feel healthier, and more confident and proud of myself every day. You
really shouldn't ever compare yourself to others or judge your
successes against theirs. That's just good general life advice. But
it's especially important when starting Keto to not allow yourself to
get discouraged or to give up because you feel like it's not the
magical fix you imagined. Like with anything, consistency is key. You
just have to trust that you'll continue to see results, because you
will. </span>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Always
Keep Your Goal In Mind</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
think such a big part of sticking to a diet has to do with having the
right mindset going into it and knowing why you're doing it. I've
tried eating healthy before, though not using any specific diet
plans, but I feel like as much as I wanted to lose weight I always
got thrown off track because I made excuses and allowances for
myself. I'd say something like “One piece of this won't hurt” or
“A glass of soda isn't going to make much of a difference”. But
the problem was that once I made that excuse for myself, I just fell
back into my old habits within a week or so. My first few weeks on
Keto I would sometimes crave sweets when I was hungry and was even
confronted with a cheesecake at my cousin's birthday dinner. But
whenever that happened I just focused on why I had decided to start
Keto in the first place. The goal that I want to achieve by my 30<sup>th</sup>
birthday next March. Remembering how I want to take pride in that
achievement and how, as delicious as I'm sure that cheesecake was, it
was a temporary pleasure and would just keep me from accomplishing my
goal. I know myself and I know my history. For me, being strict with
myself and setting clear boundaries keeps me on track much better
than giving myself some wiggle room. For this reason I remind myself,
my goals and my health are worth more than a piece of cheesecake. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>You
Won't Miss Things As Much As You Think You Will</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
honestly don't think I ever would have gone on a low-carb diet had it
not been that my mom started it with me and she wanted to reduce her
carb intake. I never would have thought myself capable. Carbs were my
life, bread was my greatest love affair. A meal without carbs seemed
like blasphemy. I never thought a low-carb diet would have been
viable for me long term. Hell, I once gave up bread and chocolate for
2 weeks because of a promise I made and <i>that</i> felt like
torture. But somehow with starting Keto, it really wasn't the
struggle I expected it to be. The trick was to come up with
acceptable alternatives. You don't really have to completely cut out
meals you love. You just have to find alternatives for the
carb-loaded parts and work around them. Having a burger without a bun
would have seemed like sacrilege to me before but once it's loaded up
with avocado, bacon and cheese, I don't actually feel deprived. I
truly expected to feel deprived on Keto and honestly I just don't. I
think another trick is to focus on all the things you <i>can</i> have
rather than the things you can't. If you're enjoying what you're
eating you're not really bemoaning the things that you can't have, if
that makes sense. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>You're
Much More Likely To Crave Something Bad When You're Hungry</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
starting off I sometimes noticed that I'd start thinking about
chocolate chip cookies while just sitting on my computer. I'd be
sitting there, doing something, and the thought would just pop into
my head. Sometimes my mind would wander to random thoughts of pizza
slices I'd once enjoyed but could no longer. And I noticed that in
all of these instances my mind seemed to be drawn to those thoughts
because I was hungry. So, instead of eating the bad things I had been
thinking about I would get up and make myself a Keto-friendly meal.
And every single time the thoughts would stop. Eventually those
thoughts stopped all together and now I just don't crave things in
the way that I used to when I ate carbs and sugar. So, sometimes it's
not really a carb craving, just plain old hunger. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>Everything
Tastes Sweeter When You Aren't Eating Sugar</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another
thing that I was never really able to do before was drink my coffee
without sugar. It just seemed wrong and frankly, a bit gross. I was
always a fan of both milk and dark chocolate but could never really
eat chocolate with over 70% cacao because it always kind of tasted
like dirt to me. My body was just so used to the sugar that it craved
it. With starting Keto and eliminating sugar from my diet, things
like drinking my coffee black and eating 85% cacao dark chocolate
became not only doable but way more enjoyable than I would have
imagined. Things that once tasted bitter and unappetizing actually
started to taste sweeter. It was like I could appreciate the
sweetness in things more easily because my body wasn't so inundated
in sugar. It's a pretty interesting experience. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 13pt;"><b>To
Savor My Food</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel
like I enjoy my food so much more now on Keto than I ever did before.
It has nothing to do with the types of food, but rather my mindset
about my meals. I feel like I have a new awareness of what is in my
food and what the benefits are. I'm much more conscious of what I'm
eating and what portion sizes should be like. But I also seem to
savor my meals much more than I ever did before. Even if I'm just
having a simple mixed salad or some chicken, I feel like I take more
time enjoying my meal and really taking in the flavors. Maybe there's
a physical reason for this...like with the sugar. Maybe something
about the diet has changed the way my food actually tastes to me. But
I've definitely noticed that I've been commenting a lot more on how
great my food tastes, sometimes multiple times within a meal. It's
such an odd change to notice, but I never really savored my food the
way I do now. </span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">To
Switch Things Up</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A
surefire way to get incredibly bored with a diet is to eat the same
thing day in and day out. It's repetitive and uninspiring, and can
quickly make you feel a bit trapped and limited. For this reason, I
try to switch up our dinners every night and incorporate some family
favorites, like fajitas, once a week. I was never really good with
eating vegetables as a kid but now that I'm on Keto my body craves
them. So, I'm constantly looking for new and interesting recipes that
will work in vegetables I actually like or make ones I'm not as into
tastier and more appealing to my palette. I've also made several
different Keto desserts in the past two months, all with different
degrees of success. Switching it up has helped me find some recipes
that really work well for me and that have become instant favorites.
It's been an integral part of making sure I don't feel deprived and
contemplate giving up. </span>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">The
Importance of Electrolytes</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
you start Keto your body starts to flush out a lot of the water that
has been stored. This results in people losing a lot of water weight
right off the bat. Along with the water, your body also flushes out
electrolytes at a much higher rate than it did before. For this
reason it is often recommended that you replenish your electrolytes
(Sodium, Potassium and Magnesium) daily to avoid side effects. People
can experience headaches, dizziness, brain fog, lethargy, leg cramps
and even heart palpitations if they don't get enough electrolytes.
Personally, I didn't really experience “Keto Flu” in the way that
most people describe it. There were no flu-like symptoms. There were
some random days when I guess that my electrolyte intake from my diet
was low (<i>I wasn't supplementing my electrolytes when I started
out</i>) and I experienced a headache or some dizziness. And on two
occasions I've experienced heart palpitations or an instance where my
heart was beating way too fast. These symptoms can all easily be
remedied by taking my magnesium supplement and getting some extra
sodium and potassium (<i>I put some Lite Salt in water with lemon and
just chug it</i>). I've quickly learned that a lot of the negative
things you experience on Keto can easily be remedied by drinking some
more water and upping your electrolyte intake. </span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Suffice
it to say that for the most part I've felt wonderful since starting
Keto. I'm really enjoying the whole process and getting to know a new
side of myself and of my body. I feel like the experience has been so
much better and easier than I ever expected it to be. I might not be
shedding pounds as quickly as some people have on Keto, but I'm
getting there slowly but surely. I also think it's important to note
that to start off I wanted to see how much I could lose with diet
alone and have not yet incorporated any exercise into my routine. I'm
looking forward to experimenting a bit and seeing what my body is
capable of and what I can accomplish. Making my health a priority has
been one of the most fulfilling parts of this past year. </span>
</div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-69625466853131512032017-11-30T13:28:00.000-08:002018-03-02T19:24:25.381-08:00A DUKE IN SHINING ARMOR (Difficult Dukes #1) by Loretta Chase<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioD-Us0j-ybxsZ8XHMygXpuaqX8W3L2Tw1MBAWFz9emefvX_T71PstR8OWubVwGIMhLce-ukChOGkZBL1fs4P9AI3LfD1a0bsUXCwnmJj5t-mSi9Z8K-BfyWcLfJLfnVgnsSsE9wc9-c/s1600/image001+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1011" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiioD-Us0j-ybxsZ8XHMygXpuaqX8W3L2Tw1MBAWFz9emefvX_T71PstR8OWubVwGIMhLce-ukChOGkZBL1fs4P9AI3LfD1a0bsUXCwnmJj5t-mSi9Z8K-BfyWcLfJLfnVgnsSsE9wc9-c/s1600/image001+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
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<div style="background-color: white;">
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<em><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></em></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<em><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not
all dukes are created equal. Most are upstanding members of Society.
And then there’s the trio known as Their Dis-Graces.</span></span></em><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hugh
Philemon Ancaster, seventh Duke of Ripley, will never win prizes for
virtue. But even he draws the line at running off with his best
friend’s bride. All he’s trying to do is recapture the slightly
inebriated Lady Olympia Hightower and return her to her intended
bridegroom.</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For
reasons that elude her, bookish, bespectacled Olympia is supposed to
marry a gorgeous rake of a duke. The </span></span><em><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">ton</span></span></span></em><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">is
flabbergasted. Her family’s ecstatic. And Olympia? She’s climbing
out of a window, bent on a getaway. But tall, dark, and exasperating
Ripley is hot on her trail, determined to bring her back to his
friend. For once, the world-famous hellion is trying to do the
honorable thing.</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="color: #181818;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So
why does Olympia have to make it so deliciously difficult for him . .
. ?</span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One
of the things that I adored most about this novel is that despite
what the title might suggest, the hero isn't always saving the day.
Ripley gets into some of his own scrapes, injuring himself multiple
times, and Olympia is actually the one who helps him resolve the
situation. On multiple occasions she stands up against bullies,
defending those that are weaker, and risking herself to do what's
right. And although some might say that running away from the alter
shows a certain cowardice, I think that in this situation it shows a
tremendous amount of courage. She knows that she doesn't feel what
she should for her fiance and takes off on her own, still in her
wedding gown and without a plan. She risks the censure of her family
and of society to do what she thinks is right. That takes real
bravery. I love that there's a sense of balance in this romance. Both
the hero and heroine save each other, as it should be. </span>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
know many people have problems with cheating in novels, or even just
the implication of it. I'm usually one of these people, as well.
Normally I would probably feel a bit icky about a romance where a guy
falls for his best friend's fiance, but somehow the author handled it
in a way where it didn't seem like the wrong thing to do. I think
maybe this was due to the fact that we don't really get to know
Olympia and Ashmont as a couple and we know that they aren't in love
with each other. They're marrying because it seemed like the right
thing to do and because of family pressure. And although Ripley is
constantly reminding himself and the reader that Olympia should be
off limits, he beats himself up about it so much and they just seem
to fit so well together that you actually end up encouraging him in
your head. <i>Go get her, Ripley! Kiss the girl!</i> So, if the idea of a
novel where a hero pursues his best friend's ex seems like a turn off
to you, you might actually be pleasantly surprised despite your
reservations. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Loretta
Chase did a wonderful job of creating characters you really want to
cheer on and a romance that I couldn't put down. I can't wait to see
what she has in store for us next in this series. If you love a historical romance with a rake trying his darnedest to reform and a
spunky heroine who is finally ready to break all the rules, A DUKE IN
SHINING ARMOR is definitely one to read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;"><i>Disclosure:
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All
thoughts and opinions shared are my own.</i></span></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Duke-Shining-Armor-Difficult-Dukes-ebook/dp/B06XFCPWZP/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1512075919&sr=8-1&keywords=a+duke+in+shining+armor"><span id="goog_1335914242"></span>Amazon<span id="goog_1335914243"></span></a></b><b> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-duke-in-shining-armor-loretta-chase/1126443567?ean=9780062457387#/">B & N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/a-duke-in-shining-armor">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Loretta_Chase_A_Duke_in_Shining_Armor?id=BWtFDgAAQBAJ">Google Play</a></b><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - ADD TO <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34217551-a-duke-in-shining-armor">GOODREADS</a> -</span></b><br />
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<b style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQS3ZnaFVF9lZl8Bu9RsMhSnYt4vAFOAxwIXeNvOCt0dciwhxugKyicqiVkGnMk27-ezjOuduxMf7iOR8QJCFEoPMTGogPj8Y665VJ5yFfbfRtduhpYTKtQWPT94otBa6exXZocZJLqI/s1600/76405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMQS3ZnaFVF9lZl8Bu9RsMhSnYt4vAFOAxwIXeNvOCt0dciwhxugKyicqiVkGnMk27-ezjOuduxMf7iOR8QJCFEoPMTGogPj8Y665VJ5yFfbfRtduhpYTKtQWPT94otBa6exXZocZJLqI/s1600/76405.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #181818;">Loretta
Lynda Chekani was born in 1949, of Albanian ancestry. For her, the
trouble started when she learned to write in first grade. Before
then, she had been making up her own stories but now she knew how to
write them down to share. In her teenage years, she continue to write
letters, keep a journal, write poetry and even attempt the Great
American Novel (still unfinished). She attended New England public
schools, before she went off to college and earned an English degree
from Clark University.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #181818;">After
graduation, she worked a variety of jobs at Clark including a
part-time teaching post. She was also moonlighting as a video
scriptwriter. It was there that she met a video producer who inspired
her to write novels and marry him. Under her married name, Loretta
Chase, has been publishing historical romance novels since 1987. Her
books have won many awards, including the Romance Writers of America
RITA.</span> </span>
</div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.lorettachase.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Website</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLorettaChase"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Facebook</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/2nerdyhistgirls"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/76405.Loretta_Chase"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></span></div>
</div>
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</div>
</div>
Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-50473074480387437902017-11-18T13:04:00.000-08:002018-03-02T19:23:50.899-08:00Hype or Hoax: Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfAvcXZUlU01d1ZnwEEk9GvCYawfrEI_qk1YMCX8CWvI_UEJvcaUgoalvFWLvdSPg85YUdgxJ1iwg4YFh1hFpKSfohh9TcIr9Rq4FzUMpc3mnykl0RfXRy8tMJCct-cwfnoLe-TVBQJQ/s1600/IMG_2986-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPfAvcXZUlU01d1ZnwEEk9GvCYawfrEI_qk1YMCX8CWvI_UEJvcaUgoalvFWLvdSPg85YUdgxJ1iwg4YFh1hFpKSfohh9TcIr9Rq4FzUMpc3mnykl0RfXRy8tMJCct-cwfnoLe-TVBQJQ/s1600/IMG_2986-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After
much hemming and hawing (<i>and rationalizing that I most definitely
needed a new concealer</i>) I recently decided to order myself the
much-hyped <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/soft-matte-complete-concealer-P416200?skuId=1900281&om_mmc=ppc-GG_378477159_27499836879_pla-81626644359_1900281_97594785519_9004381_c&country_switch=us&lang=en&gclid=Cj0KCQiA0b_QBRCeARIsAFntQ9pQspFOCx2kbBB7DTQoHvk7Dg9Q3BbKwmsE1XmkViUOIzWQ6_REARwaAjj1EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds">Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer</a>. I've heard countless
YouTubers and Beauty Gurus profess their love for this little pot of
pigmented wonder. But is it as good as all the claims? Well at first,
I definitely didn't think so.</span></div>
<a name='more'></a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
product does have a lovely texture that is creamier and not as heavy
as many other pot concealers. It's pigmented and seems to last well
on the skin. Initially my biggest problem with it was that I'd pat
some on to the skin and then dab my damp beauty blender over the top
and it was like the coverage would just disappear. So, I'd add more
and more, repeating the process, and that just left me a bit
frustrated. I mean, what's the point of a concealer if it doesn't
give you enough coverage to actually conceal?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
decided I must be doing <i>something</i> wrong. So I went on a quest
to figure out the best way to apply this puppy, and I think I've
found it. My preferred method is tapping a bit of the product on with
my fingertip and using my <a href="http://www.ulta.com/heavenly-luxe-complexion-perfection-brush-7?productId=xlsImpprod5770301">It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe ComplexionPerfection Brush #7</a> (<i>that's a mouthful of a name</i>) to stipple
the product in. You don't need to necessarily use this exact brush.
Any domed synthetic brush will do. By using a stippling motion you
can actually completely blend the product in within seconds without
shifting or removing the coverage. Once that's done I like to lightly
pat over the area with my fingertips, letting the heat from my finger
help completely mesh the product with my skin. And voila! This has
made a world of difference for me and turned the Soft Matte Concealer
into something I constantly reach for.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZWgifyUJNQaCAZ6_PJZxYMKA8j6_jFh6EqUT7z_Ots5nZudaVnCcUL4Sva0WePkoumTwPaeio5hMufUZQ8_mqYW9TdaCHErrmJn5AJmdjcZVdv97fHuPaeC7FFK823ojxxyYq9AMiwY/s1600/IMG_2968-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXZWgifyUJNQaCAZ6_PJZxYMKA8j6_jFh6EqUT7z_Ots5nZudaVnCcUL4Sva0WePkoumTwPaeio5hMufUZQ8_mqYW9TdaCHErrmJn5AJmdjcZVdv97fHuPaeC7FFK823ojxxyYq9AMiwY/s1600/IMG_2968-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One
added bonus, which I had heard some people mention but didn't truly
believe until I saw the results, is that this concealer helps
camouflage enlarged pores! This might not seem like a big deal to
some but to me and people with oily skin and enlarged, visible pores,
this is a godsend. I have a good deal of redness around my nose and
cheeks so this concealer helps knock down some of that redness and
smooth out the texture of my pores. That's something not even my
beloved Shape Tape can do. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So
ladies (<i>and makeup-loving gents</i>), this just goes to show you
that sometimes the difference between a total flop and a product you
can't stop using it user error. Don't give up on a product just
because it didn't work for you right off the bat. Try some different
techniques, see how other people have applied it and what their
skin-types are and try to see if there's a way that you can make it
work for your needs. Unless of course something breaks you out or
causes an allergic reaction. In that case, take that crap back and
make sure you post reviews so that other lovely makeup wearers like
yourself will see that no product is infallible.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have
you tried the Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer? Did it work for
you? Have you ever tried a product that didn't work for you initially
until you changed the way you were applying it? Let me know in the
comments below!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-75063146510356700422017-10-18T09:00:00.000-07:002018-03-02T19:23:51.138-08:00A Relaxing Way to Remove Makeup?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYmrs5DAbagayM1vqWBRZOqsQIMD26LKg7H9Zuf5lgt4C7VilE9YC_VjEVObLZLrbl5Jk1ya-giLieG03WR0YRltFKfrsZt39I553XN8qpKXXZleLrmk97Y3De5-qhwzjNvZ2aB1zHPw/s1600/IMG_3019-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiYmrs5DAbagayM1vqWBRZOqsQIMD26LKg7H9Zuf5lgt4C7VilE9YC_VjEVObLZLrbl5Jk1ya-giLieG03WR0YRltFKfrsZt39I553XN8qpKXXZleLrmk97Y3De5-qhwzjNvZ2aB1zHPw/s1600/IMG_3019-01.jpeg" /></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's
been a big trend in the media in the last couple of years inspired by
the Danish and Norwegian concept of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hygge</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hygge</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> can't really be
translated to just one word but the basic idea is to create a sense
of coziness and comfort which brings contentedness. If you've ever
cuddled up on a couch with a good book, a cup of cocoa and a nice
toasty fire you've probably already experienced it. Well, Ole
Henriksen wants to bring the concept of </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hygge</i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> to your skincare
routine with products to nourish and pamper your skin while simply
being a pleasure to use. One of the most hated steps in a skincare
routine is often removing makeup, but they aim to make it a luxurious
experience with their new </span><a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/wonderfeel-tm-double-cleanser-P421760" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wonderfeel Double Cleanser</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. I was lucky
enough to be sent the cleanser by Influenster to try and here's what
I found.</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The
<i>Wonderfeel Double Cleanser</i> feels creamy and nourishing and very
enjoyable to massage into the skin. It smells fruity and delicious
which only adds to the experience. I was very happy that it didn't
sting my eyes too much or seem to irritate my skin. But I feel like
the muslin cloth that came with the cleanser might be a bit scratchy.
It kind of detracted from the soothing experience to feel the texture
of the complexion cloth rubbing against my skin. I've used muslin
cloths before in conjunction with cleansers but this cloth just
seemed a little rougher on my skin. Once you use it several times the
cloth gets a bit more worn in and softer, but the initial few uses it
was a bit stiff.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOEwr72PKOfTUf7juZtN0ie6lUrv2GnXEzxf6pKDfmLqaMjJyhxIbHVa6MQv9JR0-AwpRvLZslTZI7iPIZoT2vKCSDbCbI1wFAfgmthVvhjZuLlRYKGxHQuialNiPB8TCJID5GKIn1vo/s1600/IMG_3008-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQOEwr72PKOfTUf7juZtN0ie6lUrv2GnXEzxf6pKDfmLqaMjJyhxIbHVa6MQv9JR0-AwpRvLZslTZI7iPIZoT2vKCSDbCbI1wFAfgmthVvhjZuLlRYKGxHQuialNiPB8TCJID5GKIn1vo/s1600/IMG_3008-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, in
terms of the claims, I did find that the cleanser did a great job of
removing all of my makeup, even my waterproof mascara. My skin felt
clean and supple – like it had been hydrated during the cleansing
process. Although the cleanser says that it's aimed at people with
dry, sensitive skin, I didn't find any issues with using it on my
oily skin. I think this would be a great product to use as we go into
the colder months when our skin needs any extra bit of hydration it
can get. I also really appreciate that this is just one step to both remove makeup and cleanse, rather than having to use two separate products. Lazy girls rejoice! I'll definitely continue to use this cleanser to remove my
makeup as it does a great job, smells wonderful and has a luxuriously
creamy texture that is very relaxing to massage into the skin. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But
would I repurchase this product? Probably not. I totally understand
how this cleanser fits into Ole Henriksen's <i>Hygge</i> range concept. It's
relaxing to use and feels like you're pampering your skin. But the cloth falls a bit short for me on the cozy-factor. I just
think I'd rather invest my money in a good mask or treatment. But if
you've got the money to spend ($32) and are looking for a comforting and
thorough way to remove your makeup that's a bit of a treat, I would
definitely recommend the <i>Wonderfeel Double Cleanser</i>. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>*Disclosure:
This product was sent to me for review purposes by Influenster. All
thoughts and opinions shared in this review are entirely my own.<span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></span>
</div>
Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-47693335176353195692017-10-03T09:00:00.000-07:002018-03-02T19:24:25.194-08:00Making A Custom Candle At The Candle Lab<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNSH8U1m18GvAj89rHwQr2pij9hxZiL-NtooiVChLVqubLixfASqqfauH-LLjzGbWh3aU3TbB9ehTd042OLUm9BaDnCBjGK3rxb366MHDNkTnlzJbrptl8i8PZqquCsbPqZ3acTs0Y0U/s1600/IMG_3129-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNSH8U1m18GvAj89rHwQr2pij9hxZiL-NtooiVChLVqubLixfASqqfauH-LLjzGbWh3aU3TbB9ehTd042OLUm9BaDnCBjGK3rxb366MHDNkTnlzJbrptl8i8PZqquCsbPqZ3acTs0Y0U/s1600/IMG_3129-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
planning my trip to Ohio to visit my brother and my sister-in-law, I
looked up some fun things to do in Columbus and Cincinnati. I came
across </span><a href="https://www.thecandlelab.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Candle Lab</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, a brand that specializes in natural, gourmet
soy candles and custom fragrances. You can literally walk in, choose
the scents you like and make your own custom candle. Basically a
dream come true for my candle-addicted self. So, a couple of weeks
ago while in Ohio, we stopped by the Short North location and made
our own!</span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwh4KPlHQS0MvBGLQvYMFLKhOutEBB_KqGtu_o4O3ga2cdeOTjC_Nv7qNEjhZrCS72aOmHHhE1ttq-p-EC_TqMmcgFZgpOboJ20rQ4olAgjE24jEsm3-RO0NjUcLkGnhxdSNh7cd9mao/s1600/candlelab1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1147" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuwh4KPlHQS0MvBGLQvYMFLKhOutEBB_KqGtu_o4O3ga2cdeOTjC_Nv7qNEjhZrCS72aOmHHhE1ttq-p-EC_TqMmcgFZgpOboJ20rQ4olAgjE24jEsm3-RO0NjUcLkGnhxdSNh7cd9mao/s1600/candlelab1.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
you first walk through the door you're hit with a wave of different
scents. The left wall of the store is basically covered in shelf
after shelf of their scented candles, each with a single fragrance
that they've created to be used on its own (in their pre-made, ready
to buy candles) or mixed with other scents for a custom blend. If
you're making a custom candle you're handed a clipboard with a
prepared form and sent over to the <i>Great Wall of Candles</i> to smell all
the things and jot down some of your favorite scents. Don't worry
that the scents you like won't smell good together. The salesperson
will give you advice on which fragrances will work well together once
you have your list and are ready to start creating. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br />
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My
recommendation when approaching the wall would be to smell
<i>everything</i>. Yes, that might seem excessive but if you're in a rush
you shouldn't be making a custom candle. The reason you should smell
everything, including scents that you think might not appeal to you,
is that some of them will really pleasantly surprise you. I smelled
Tomato Leaf, which I thought I would never want in a candle, but it
smelled so natural and real – fresh, like my family's garden –
and a really nice homey wave of nostalgia hit me. Now, I would
totally mix together Tomato Leaf, Verbena and something herbaceous,
like Rosemary to make a fresh scent for my home. Who knew? Also, I
found some of the scents I thought I would adore, like Eucalyptus,
just smelled a little different than I thought they would. So, smell
all the things. </span>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Next
you head over to the shelves filled with empty containers. There's a
huge variety of jars and ceramic pots to choose from. You can even
bring in your own heat-proof vessel in which to make your own candle.
The prices vary based on how many ounces each jar can hold. I went
with the classic 8oz jar, which cost $16. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once
you have your list ready and your jar selected you take them up to
the bar and the salesperson will ask you to star a couple of the
fragrances you liked most. I went for Grapefruit and Lemongrass. I
love citrusy scents, both for myself and for my home, but find that
grapefruit can often smell a bit like sweat (<i>Am I the only one who
thinks so?</i>). But The Candle Lab's version hit the perfect note and I
knew right away that I wanted to use it in my candle. You can put up
to three different scented oils in your candle, so the saleswoman
recommended a couple of options. I happened to have a cold that day
which made the process a bit tougher, but I settled on Teakwood to
give my candle a woody base. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We
were then given blank labels and a variety of markers and pens so
that we could name our custom candle and decorate our label. If your
drawing skills aren't great, don't worry. The label actually gets
placed on the bottom of your candle. I was a little stressed over my
stuffy nose and worried that my candle wouldn't smell as good as I
thought it did, so I just called mine <i>'Citrus Woods'</i> and simply wrote
out the notes for my future reference. You're then asked to fill a
jigger (the hourglass shaped measuring tool that bartenders use) with
your selected scent oils. You can add as much or as little of each
scent until you fill it to the brim. I like that you get to customize
which notes play a more prominent role. I added my oils slowly,
alternating and sniffing in between, to make sure that the balance
was how I wanted it. I ended up using more Grapefruit and Lemongrass
than Teakwood, because I wanted it to be more bright and citrusy, but
you can still definitely make out that woody base. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Once
I'd filled the jigger, the saleswoman brought over my jar filled with
liquid soy wax and told me to dump all the oil in in one straight
shoot. I did, and she mixed the concoction around and around with a
metal spoon. And that was pretty much it! The candles take about half
an hour to set so we went off to have a delicious lunch and a browse
at some of the nearby shops and came back later that afternoon to
pick up our little wax babies. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have
to say, The Candle Lab does a really great job of wrapping up your
candle in paper and a pretty bag which just makes it feel like a gift
to yourself. The whole process was a lot of fun and the scents were
so good that I'm definitely going to add some of their pre-made
candles to my wishlist. Fig, I'm lookin' at you. That place is
incredibly addictive. I know that next time I'm in Ohio I will
definitely be making another custom candle. If you're not really into
candles but love bath and body products, they also have a great
selection of scrubs and creams which I believe you can also
customize. I've been to painting and drinking events before and I
think this is an even better way to spend a girls night out because
you get a great product you can actually use for all your work. This
would be such a fun thing to do for a birthday or bachelorette. Plus,
some of the locations even serve alcohol and have tasting events.
Just make sure to call ahead if you're going with a party of more
than five people. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take a
look at <a href="https://www.thecandlelab.com/collections/types?q=11oz%20soy%20candle">the scent list</a>. Do any of the fragrances appeal to you? Which
would you like to mix in a custom candle? Let me know in the comments
below.</span></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-60445314437729010492017-08-21T20:46:00.002-07:002018-03-02T19:24:25.304-08:00DON'T CALL ME SWEETHEART (Something Borrowed #1) by Codi Gary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVK8AiLbbrfsM0GNarb5y7N6-BBVqLFtLWioI4uE2j6-B8PLKqhjKZDMTMENLaShUGqeVu08GnDhhhY_ym1_-66f2rv7HwNjs3iJYOxjucDy5xPf5xGGHCvjRPiuxMRfm8aV_ccv_YZo/s1600/don-t-call-me-sweetheart-final_1_orig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="533" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtVK8AiLbbrfsM0GNarb5y7N6-BBVqLFtLWioI4uE2j6-B8PLKqhjKZDMTMENLaShUGqeVu08GnDhhhY_ym1_-66f2rv7HwNjs3iJYOxjucDy5xPf5xGGHCvjRPiuxMRfm8aV_ccv_YZo/s1600/don-t-call-me-sweetheart-final_1_orig.jpg" /></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818;">Weddings
are big business in picturesque Sweetheart, California, and Something
Borrowed’s rent-a-bridesmaid service is thriving among the
Hollywood elite. For the women who work there, a walk down the aisle
is just a paycheck—until the right guy makes it priceless . .
. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #181818;">RULE #1: GROOMSMEN ARE
STRICTLY OFF LIMITS</span><br /><br /><span style="color: #181818;">Marley
Stevenson never imagined her stint as a rented Maid of Honor would
practically become a career. Then again, nothing in her life has gone
according to plan. At least the money’s good—and she needs it to
pay off student loans and help out her mom. But the job has rules,
which have never been an issue . . . until one encounter with a
gorgeous best man—and his swoon-worthy Southern accent—sends
Marley reeling. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: #181818;">Determined
to get through the weekend with her professional reputation intact,
Marley grits her teeth and sends out her best “unavailable”
vibes, but Luke Jessup doesn’t give up that easy. A former Marine
and a current SWAT team officer, his focus is legendary—and it’s
on Marley. Jeopardizing her job is bad enough, and starting a
relationship based on half-truths is worse—yet Marley is beginning
to wonder if certain risks are worth taking, especially in the name
of true love . . .</span></i> </span></span>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DON'T
CALL ME SWEETHEART is full of all the sass, humor and small-town
charm that I've come to expect from Codi Gary. Marley is a
hard-working, confident woman with a huge amount of love in her heart
for her small town but big aspirations of saving up for her move
to New York. When she <i>literally</i> bumps into Luke, a gorgeous, mountain
of a man with a sexy southern accent and heaps of understated charm,
she can't help but agree to a date with him. Luke and Marley have a
real spark between them but in an unfortunate coincidence, she
discovers that he is the Best Man in the wedding for which she's just
been hired on as a rented Maid of Honor, and her company has a strict policy. But in spite of the rules and Marley's
attempts to keep her distance, these two just can't resist each other.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There
are so many little details in this story that I think just made it
so special. Little touches that really make the story feel real and
endear you to the characters. Like Luke's ears. I love that
they're described as being just a bit too big for him and even though
he's muscular and handsome and funny, it's just such a sweet little
characteristic which makes him unique and lovable. I think the
concept for the story is really clever – a rental Bridesmaid
falling for the Best Man. Marley's situation, with her job, the non-disclosure agreement and having to deal with a
particularly venomous Bride, causes an interesting level of emotional
conflict and raises some real questions on ethics. The novel also
really highlights the role that fear and forgiveness play in love and Luke's wedding toast made me love him all the more. </span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I
think the author did a wonderful job of making you fall in love with
the town and its charming, romantically named local haunts. She also
gave you snippets of moments with secondary characters that just drew
you in more and left you hoping for their own story in the future.
The novel was full of several twists and surprises that I didn't see
coming and characters who had a few tricks up their sleeves. If
you're looking for a fun romance that'll keep you on your toes, I
highly recommend checking out DON'T CALL ME SWEETHEART. </span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own. </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></b><b><b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> - LINKS TO PURCHASE - </span></b></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1335914242"></span>Amazon<span id="goog_1335914243"></span></a></b><b> | <a href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dont-call-me-sweetheart-codi-gary/1125166580?ean=9781516102303">B & N</a> | <a href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/don-t-call-me-sweetheart-3">Kobo</a> | <a href="https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Codi_Gary_Don_t_Call_Me_Sweetheart?id=8xGJDQAAQBAJ">Google Play</a></b><u></u></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> - ADD TO <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33802173-don-t-call-me-sweetheart?from_search=true">GOODREADS</a> -</span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">An obsessive bookworm, CODI GARY likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.</span></div>
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<span style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://www.codigarysbooks.com/"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Website</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/CodiGarysBooks"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Facebook</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://twitter.com/CodiGary"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Twitter</b></span></a><span style="font-size: small;"><b> || </b></span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6583366.Codi_Gary"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Goodreads</b></span></a></span></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-83378700520134595372017-08-08T12:52:00.001-07:002018-03-02T19:24:25.430-08:00JUST A LITTLE HARMLESS SASS by Codi Gary<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRUKsB1gS_C2hK1cW_uwXaaga0GfHLOVbQVfSanDMQTFbzt9mWkG2zGVEkvQnrd1wdWkxEkRL9eewksOz1DbtXNYMWHNFRZMaNSYbSWTXHKZ_MXfdW7BfRp15tamimmLxXvxQkOJUClo/s1600/416248c2-995c-49c4-ab00-5ac40f8be91a+%25281%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="501" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSRUKsB1gS_C2hK1cW_uwXaaga0GfHLOVbQVfSanDMQTFbzt9mWkG2zGVEkvQnrd1wdWkxEkRL9eewksOz1DbtXNYMWHNFRZMaNSYbSWTXHKZ_MXfdW7BfRp15tamimmLxXvxQkOJUClo/s1600/416248c2-995c-49c4-ab00-5ac40f8be91a+%25281%2529.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: #181818;">Twilight, Idaho, is all Greer Kimble knows. Despite the rumors and fear-inducing campfire stories, she's never seen a wolf in her hometown woods. But then a tumble roughs her up and puts her face-to-face with the most beautiful creature she's even seen. One moment she's looking at a mesmerizing beast, and the next she's in the arms of a sexy stranger with eerily familiar electric-blue eyes. And now she's caught in a war between fear and lust.</span><br style="color: #181818;" /><br style="color: #181818;" /><span style="color: #181818;">Beautiful, curvy, and sassy as hell, Greer is everything Xander Thorson craves in a mate. But he can't allow a distraction like desire to compromise his mission to track a pair of rogue shifters who murdered his family. Hunting justice, thirsty for vengeance, he needs to stay focused. Getting involved with a woman who challenges him at every turn is as dangerous as it is reckless.</span><br style="color: #181818;" /><br style="color: #181818;" /><span style="color: #181818;">Xander's vow to stay away from Greer shatters when the shifters target her to get to him. He'll do anything to protect her...even if it means making her his.</span></i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm a huge fan of Codi Gary's small town romances and her first paranormal romance, JUST A LITTLE HARMLESS SASS, still brings all those fun details to the table. It still felt like the focus was really on the characters, their fears and past struggles, their sass and determination and their road to falling in love despite the dangerous situation they find themselves in. Greer and Xander are drawn to each other from the very start and although they are a bit hesitant to start anything at first, they quickly learn that they can't resist each other. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">And boy is it hot as hell when these two do get together! I really appreciate the use of more explicit words in sex scenes (<i>when they're built up to and used in the right context, of course</i>) and loved that things weren't just glossed over like you sometimes find in romances. I don't know about you but if I'm investing my time is getting pulled into a romance and seeing the emotion and passion blossom, I want to really immerse myself in the experience and get the dirty details when things finally heat up. I thought the love scenes in this novel were hot as hell, without being over the top or forced. It was a tiny bit more overt than you might find in some of Codi Gary's other work, but I was eating it up and can't wait for more scenes like this in future novels. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I really appreciated that Greer was a curvy woman, who was described as having a rounded belly and hips. I do love me a sassy, curvy heroine! Both her personality and Xander's were really endearing and I just wish I had gotten more time to get to know them further. As with any Codi Gary romance, the supporting characters have their own charm that pulls you in and makes you crave their own story. I'm craving Jill's story next and would love to learn more about the town and the people who live in it. The author threw in some really cute quirks that just make me want to jump back in and explore. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">JUST A LITTLE HARMLESS SASS was a seriously satisfying read that I couldn't put down. I devoured the whole thing in one sitting and it just left me wanting more of Twilight, Idaho. I know this is a bit of a departure from Codi Gary's typical work, but I think if you love her other romances, you'll definitely still find all the elements you love in her new paranormal romance. It's still got that wonderfully quirky small town flare, but with a paranormal kick that will make you crave a werewolf boyfriend of your very own. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own. </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif;">An obsessive bookworm, CODI GARY likes to write sexy small-town contemporary romances with humor, grand gestures, and blush-worthy moments. When she’s not writing, she can be found reading her favorite authors, squealing over her must-watch shows, and playing with her children. She lives in Idaho with her family.</span></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-68840115829394452442017-08-02T11:03:00.001-07:002018-03-02T19:23:51.116-08:005 Beauty Products I've Been Loving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpPOqCqzXgr9Dt0Fn6t6s-vItJS1HdyS8WqKVE_e9XaE1x58qzdjsdOjDxYFRP52hMd7ptCksYF_VOPpFG5K9dFrNSxBF0mN8Jm-BfXy4dvkz8kHcmnPgY2JqbirDeTjG28KPn87px-U/s1600/IMG_2883-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimpPOqCqzXgr9Dt0Fn6t6s-vItJS1HdyS8WqKVE_e9XaE1x58qzdjsdOjDxYFRP52hMd7ptCksYF_VOPpFG5K9dFrNSxBF0mN8Jm-BfXy4dvkz8kHcmnPgY2JqbirDeTjG28KPn87px-U/s1600/IMG_2883-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.ulta.com/travel-size-daily-superfoliant?productId=xlsImpprod15261035">Dermalogica Daily Superfoliant </a></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This exfoliant is a grey powder that you pour into wet palms and massage into your skin. I love the idea of a dry treatment that you can customize to get the texture that works best for you. I picked up the travel-size bottle because I wasn't sure if it would do much for my skin but I've been really impressed. It isn't too course or scratchy and it really leaves my skin feeling cleaner and incredibly soft - like it was just polished. I only really use this product in the evening as it's supposed to detoxify and remove pollutants from the skin. Living in New York, I'm very aware of the effect that pollution has on my skin. I especially love using this on days I've been on the subway and walking around the city.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.escentual.com/en-US/la-roche-posay/larocheposay165/"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mask</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I actually picked this up while in Portugal in June on a whim. I was in a pharmacy and since I've been recommended some great things in European pharmacies, I decided to ask the pharmacist for advice on products that would work well for my oily, acne-prone skin. I wasn't really in the market for a mask but this was one of the products she recommended and I figured why not give it a try. The mask has an herbal scent and goes on smooth. It has a thick, creamy texture that spreads evenly and dries down like a typical clay mask. I'm really impressed with how clean and smooth my pores look after washing the mask off. I've always struggled with enlarged pores and blackheads so anything that makes them look smaller and less glaring is a must-have. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd_pKPjSXzPlnIjY_Crf3jDKiMLCTc90CElwwnB9Z5gtwXhRj1bZ_oqNBxX5wjBuDgC0OcjAm4BIggQ3b7QhntfNwX0AoBbvEeZpXykvjUsMq8rC8CmGiUylBpG_vMQi7VrDZamjKy94/s1600/IMG_2864-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDd_pKPjSXzPlnIjY_Crf3jDKiMLCTc90CElwwnB9Z5gtwXhRj1bZ_oqNBxX5wjBuDgC0OcjAm4BIggQ3b7QhntfNwX0AoBbvEeZpXykvjUsMq8rC8CmGiUylBpG_vMQi7VrDZamjKy94/s1600/IMG_2864-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.ulta.com/effaclar-mat-oil-free-mattifying-moisturizer?productId=xlsImpprod5280325"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>La Roche-Posay Effaclar Mat</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was another product that I picked up as a suggestion from the pharmacist in Portugal. I was a bit skeptical because I've tried several mattifying moisturizers in the past, including one from Bioderma, and was never really all that impressed. This moisturizer feels light and gel-like and absorbs to a matte finish. I actually feel like my enlarged pores aren't as noticeable when I wear it which is a huge deal for me because it's one of the things that makes me most self-conscious about my skin. It was a good deal cheaper in Portugal than it is in the U.S. but I would highly recommend it if you have oily skin.</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.sephora.com/lip-sleeping-mask-P420652?skuId=1966258&icid2=laneige_lp_sleeping_beauty_masks_carousel_us:p420652"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I got this lip balm solely because Karima McKimmie recommended it in her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zN_F1fzmezA">Korean beauty video</a>. It's definitely lived up to the hype. It tastes almost like pink Starburst candies, which is honestly a reason to buy it all on its own. The balm doesn't feel as thick or dry as some others that I've tried but it really coats your lips and doesn't just soak in in seconds. I'll put this on before bed and wake up with my lips still feeling plump and hydrated. Plus, there's so much product in the pot it'll last me ages. If you suffer from dry or chapped lips this is a weapon you need on your side.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIjFksa3PU7SED1PV2-2yLna-csWM7fIV-VkoZ1iRAie9WLWR6RJHMF3WweF89HH65XgtF2ut-talfHuH2OubCFYLe9JBEqG568YlAcHsiPwY3TvhSbqlxnd9jf1Jey6Sx5ST6TTey4k/s1600/IMG_2871-01.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikIjFksa3PU7SED1PV2-2yLna-csWM7fIV-VkoZ1iRAie9WLWR6RJHMF3WweF89HH65XgtF2ut-talfHuH2OubCFYLe9JBEqG568YlAcHsiPwY3TvhSbqlxnd9jf1Jey6Sx5ST6TTey4k/s1600/IMG_2871-01.jpeg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/profoot-care-heel-rescue-superior-moisturizing-foot-cream/ID=prod1181994-product"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>ProFoot Heel Rescue Foot Cream</b></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I was actually sent this product to test by Influenster but didn't expect to love it that much. It just sounded like a generic foot cream and I don't usually really take very good care of my feet to begin with. Since sandal season was firmly upon us and my heels had been a bit drier than usual I decided to give it a go and it worked wonderfully. It's thick and creamy but absorbed well without feeling like it wasn't doing anything. My heels visibly looked and felt less dry when I used it. Plus, who doesn't love a product with a pump!</span><br />
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<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Let me know what products you've been loving in the comments below.</b></span></i><br />
<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-67573276264309804312017-07-26T14:21:00.001-07:002018-03-02T19:24:25.341-08:00MISTER HOCKEY (Hellions Angels #1) by Lia Riley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HavqrzQL-4V4eNsGuRfoSpKA7yN3aKuEMo7ui-1EhQaiH7zNaYDFZ5WieklYStTPHqRFFUk98HvbxITJd35Nt6dzdwaZqdOG25AVIIl1FHLS3yJLKkr9xJCh4S_GjGQDM4J2asO9fvo/s1600/image001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="648" data-original-width="409" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3HavqrzQL-4V4eNsGuRfoSpKA7yN3aKuEMo7ui-1EhQaiH7zNaYDFZ5WieklYStTPHqRFFUk98HvbxITJd35Nt6dzdwaZqdOG25AVIIl1FHLS3yJLKkr9xJCh4S_GjGQDM4J2asO9fvo/s1600/image001.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i>Jed West is Mr. Hockey. The star player for the NHL’s Denver Hellions, he’s living the good life of a Stanley Cup Champion. But since a brutal hit in Game 7 of the championship game, he’s been fighting off blurred vision and he’s terrified this might mean the end of his career.<br /><br />For love and money, Breezy Angel is a librarian, but for love alone, she's a fierce Hellions fan and a member of their biggest fan club, the Hellcats. When her #1 hockey crush, Jed West, shows up at her library willing to fill-in for his wayward teammate, she can't believe her luck. And when she discovers that the man she's always lusted after is lusting after her, she doesn't stand a chance.<br /><br />Jed can't seem to resist Breezy's siren song, but he knows that he can't reveal the truth about his potentially career ending injury, especially since her sister is one of Denver's fiercest sports reporters. He's been burned by exes and tabloid smears in the past and if this gets out, it's all over. But as their fling becomes a relationship, Jed has to decide if he's willing to take a chance on love, even if it all ends in flames.</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I'm not usually a fan of sports romances. They're just not my thing. But honestly, I'm just going to come out and say that I absolutely adored MISTER HOCKEY. You definitely don't have to be a hockey fan to appreciate it. One thing I do love about sports romances is that sense of camaraderie and the importance that teammates and coaches play in each others lives. It ensures that you not only fall for the heroes, but become invested in the lives and love-lives of supporting characters. It makes you crave their stories which makes for a brilliant start to a successful series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There are so many things that I loved about the characters that it might take way too long to break down. Breezy is a quirky, smart, funny librarian who gets to meet her celebrity crush and somehow, despite some awkward mishaps, ends up with him back at her place. I feel like this is the kind of fantasy any woman can get behind! Plus, I have so much love for the fact that she's a librarian. I'm always a fan of bookish, curvy babes getting the hunk! Especially when they're sassy and spunky to boot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">There was something so special about the way Breezy's family was portrayed. I love that they're a group of such strong-willed, distinct women. And I thought it was an amazing touch to have hockey, which is typically seen as something men bond over, be the thing that always brings them together. Breezy and her mother don't see eye-to-eye very often but I thought their relationship and their ups and downs felt very honest and relateable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Jed is really the whole package. He's sweet, charming and deliciously dirty. Plus it doesn't hurt that he's ripped and has a thing for geeky, curvy girls. Be still my heart. He might be a famous hockey player and the captain of his team but he's so thoughtful and down to earth when he's with Breezy, her family and his friends. He's a stellar book boyfriend and one of the reasons I can't wait for the next installment in the series. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Lia Riley might have just made me a hockey romance convert. This novel was funny, sweet and all kinds of sexy. The best kind of dirty, sexy fun! The characters were brought to life with such heart, humor and personality that you can't help but fall head first into their romance. And trust me, it's one hell of a ride. If you're into contemporary romances without the cookie-cutter characters, then this is definitely one you need to read!</span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>Disclosure: I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions shared are my own. </i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><a class="western" href="https://www.amazon.com/Mister-Hockey-Hellions-Lia-Riley-ebook/dp/B01MAXJ1QB/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1500713520&sr=8-1&keywords=mister+hockey"><b>Amazon</b></a></u><b> | </b><u><a class="western" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mister-hockey-lia-riley/1126314375?ean=9780062662460"><b>B & N</b></a></u><b> | </b><u><a class="western" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/mr-hockey/id1166566077?mt=11"><b>iTunes</b></a></u><b> | </b><u><a class="western" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/mister-hockey"><b>Kobo</b></a></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, <b style="-webkit-padding-start: 0px;">LIA RILEY </b>scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukrainian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling fourex with station hands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.</span></div>
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<i style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.liariley.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/liarileywrites" target="_blank">Twitter</a> || <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7366597.Lia_Riley" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></i></div>
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-24046007263923872782017-07-22T09:00:00.000-07:002018-03-02T19:24:25.117-08:00Anxiety, Fear and 'Romantics Anonymous'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently I watched a French comedy called <i>Romantics Anonymous</i> about a gifted female chocolate-maker who suffers from paralyzing shyness. She has a true passion and unmatched talent for chocolate but her overwhelming fear causes her to isolate herself and conceal her true potential. It's an issue she has always struggled with. But when she finds herself falling in love with her new boss, the owner of a failing chocolate factory who unbeknownst to her suffers from a similar affliction, her mettle is truly tested.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jean-Rene, her boss, suffers from a crippling fear of social interaction and intimacy and quite literally often finds himself fleeing from the things he wants most. In spite of Angelique's timidity and her self-doubts, she is shown throughout the film as resilient in the face of Jean-Rene's rejection. She internalizes a lot of the awkwardness and sees it as a result of her own shyness, not realizing that Jean-Rene suffers from similar social anxiety. But even in the face of all her fears and doubts, Angelique perseveres and comes back to work the next day. She's still scared, she's still anxious and uncomfortable, but she's a fighter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I feel like I saw so much of myself in the characters in this film. I've never really suffered from social anxiety in the same sense as Angelique or Jean-Rene, but for a long time I dealt with sometimes crippling fears. Not the kind of fear that makes you flee as Jean-Rene did, but the kind that leaves you feeling frozen - trapped in your own cycle of hypothetical disasters. The kind that keeps you from taking risks for fear of improbable repercussions and the potential for embarrassment. That kind of fear and anxiety can leave you feeling like you're drowning - much like Angelique mentions at the end of the film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When Jean-Rene is asked by his coworkers what he is afraid of, he replies simply "everything". That was something I could absolutely relate to. For a long time and until recently I was often bombarded with a variety or irrational fears and doubts that kept me from trying many of the things I wanted to do. In the last year I've dealt with anxiety and stress off and on for a variety of reasons and what's helped me most has been to acknowledge that I have those feelings and that it's ok. There are so many people out there dealing with the same worries and anxiety. It's not something to be ashamed of. What makes me feel stronger is reminding myself that even if I fail, even if the bad hypothetical outcome does happen, I can be proud in knowing that I truly tried and that I gave it my all. Falling flat on your face somehow doesn't feel as bad if you can be proud of yourself for taking the risk and really putting your heart into it. It reminds you that wounds heal and you feel tougher, bolder and braver for surviving those battle scars.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe it sounds easy or even trite, but that has been one of the hardest lessons I've ever had to learn. It's one thing when the inspirational quotes you read on social media proclaim it but it's quite another when you've lived it and learned it the hard way. It's one of those lessons that you sometimes forget when you're feeling particularly crappy or when everything seems to be going wrong. Refreshers are necessary. But when you learn to fight for yourself, all those fears and niggling what-ifs don't seem as calamitous.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In terms of love, I am what most people would call a romantic. A dreamer. In that I also feel a kinship with Angelique. Dealing with a significant other who struggles with persistent self-doubt and fear is not easy - even more so when you both share similar afflictions. And knowing that the other person's struggles could trigger yours and lead to both of you sinking into a state of panic and no longer communicating, it's pretty terrifying. So I understand why Angelique originally wanted to give up on the relationship - only too well actually. Sometimes it's easier to give up than to risk the possibility of having something amazing go completely to shit. Giving up is seductively reassuring that way. But I absolutely love that Angelique changed her mind and that she decided their love was worth fighting for. They both learned that when the anxiety and pressure gets to be too much, they can flee it together, rather than running away from each other. That last scene was the perfect ending in my book.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I don't normally write film reviews on the blog and I wouldn't necessarily classify this as a typical review per se, but because of my own experiences, personal and romantic, and some that I've been dealing with until very recently, I just connected with this film too much not to talk about it. I think part of the reason I enjoyed this movie so much is one of the reasons why I enjoy Charlotte Stein's novels: It's important for us to know that even if we're flawed, fearful, anxious, and self-conscious, even if we have a really hard time believing it sometimes, we're always worthy of love. And it reminds us to believe that there's someone just as fucked up out there who fits us in all the ways that matter.</span><br />
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<br />Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5328427409508426159.post-23786123968389514802017-06-03T01:16:00.003-07:002018-03-02T19:24:25.091-08:00RISKING IT ALL (Hidden Falls #3) by T.J. Kline<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">- SYNOPSIS - </b><br />
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Andrew
McQuaid wasn’t always the local playboy. Once upon a time, he
wanted to spend the rest of his life with one woman-Gia Mancuso. When
he made a mistake and lost her, he decided he wasn’t meant to have
a happy-ever-after. Now, Gia’s come back to town, with a baby in
tow, and it might just mean a second chance at forever, if he can
convince her that he never stopped loving her.</i></span></span></div>
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<i>Ten
years after leaving, Gia finds herself back in Hidden Falls. Between
helping her ailing father save the family restaurant and taking care
of the baby her sister left on her doorstep, she doesn’t have time
for the man who once broke her heart. But Andrew is all grown-up now,
in every single way. And the part of her that has always been his
can’t quite say no to his tempting kisses.</i></div>
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<i>Just
when Gia begins to open her heart, a devastating secret emerges that
threatens to destroy her family and any future with Andrew. Are they
doomed to repeat the mistakes of their past or can Andrew convince
Gia that she’s always been his one and only?</i></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">- MY THOUGHTS - </span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Reunited
lovers are not usually one of my favorite tropes in romance. There's
often so much heartache and regret holding the characters back from
acting on their desires, which can sometimes feel like constantly
moving two steps forward and one step back. And memories of
infidelity can completely ruin a romance for me as I'm often
incapable of letting it go even when the heroine is ready to forgive
and forget. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In RISKING IT ALL, Gia is under the impression that
Andrew cheated on her years ago, which made me a bit standoffish towards him at
first. Then it seemed that although he had been nothing but faithful
to Gia while they were together, he had drunkenly hooked up with her
sister, Lorena, the year prior. Although <i>technically</i> that would not
have constituted infidelity, it would have definitely changed the
respect I had for Andrew. I think T.J. Kline did a wonderful job of
building tension and drama between the characters by slowly revealing
new information and shifting our knowledge of events. It kept me
interested in seeing what kind of guy Andrew really was and if he was
worthy of the loving and self-sacrificing Gia. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">I
really enjoyed Gia as a character. Sometimes heroines who are so good
and selfless can seem a bit naïve or flat. A goodie two shoes that
you can't relate to. But Gia doesn't let others take advantage and
walk all over her. She's a fighter and has passions and dreams that
she goes after, even if she knows it's not what everyone else wants
her to do. I really admire that both Gia and Andrew are the kind of
people who put family first. It's something I could really relate to
and instantly endeared me to both of them. </span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: medium;">That
Lorena, though! She's just the kind of heartless, manipulative
character you love to hate. It's like she's a magnet, pulling
all the hate and disgust out of you and leaving you appalled by the
fact that someone could be so heinous to their own family. I grew up
watching <i>telenovelas, </i>so
the scheming, unscrupulous,
tornado of a woman who destroys everything in her path is something
I'm all too familiar with. She's the kind of character that inspires
such a profound reaction in readers – revulsion for her actions,
sympathy for the heroes, and a consuming need to see her get her
comeuppance. It's characters like Lorena that fuel our hope in karmic
justice and keep us glued to our seats to see good triumph over evil.
It's something that, especially in
the world we're currently living in, we as readers – as people –
need now
more
than ever. </span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">T.J.
Kline writes some of my favorite small town romances and RISKING IT
ALL is yet another example of why I love her work. She writes about
people that make you feel things...good and bad. Books that grab you
and make you fall in love with not just the heroes, but their family
and friends as well. They're the kind of books that always leave you
coming back for more. As soon as I finished this novel I headed
straight to Amazon and purchased the two previous books in the
series, which I hadn't read yet. I don't feel like my experience was
at all hindered by not having read the previous books but I enjoyed it so much and wanted more of the McQuaids. If you're looking
for a small town romance that will take you on a roller coaster of
emotions, this is definitely one to check out. </span></span></span>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>Disclosure:
I received this book free in exchange for my honest review. All
thoughts and opinions shared are my own. </i></span></span></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><a class="western" href="https://www.amazon.com/Risking-All-Hidden-Falls-Kline-ebook/dp/B01GCCXNTO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1496475258&sr=8-1&keywords=risking+it+all"><b>Amazon</b></a></u><b> | </b><u><a class="western" href="https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/risking-it-all-t-j-kline/1125685360?ean=9780062651846"><b>B & N</b></a></u><b> | </b><u><a class="western" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/risking-it-all/id1118877536?mt=11"><b>iTunes</b></a></u><b> | </b><u><a class="western" href="https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/risking-it-all-24"><b>Kobo</b></a></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b style="background-color: white; line-height: normal;">- AUTHOR INFO -</b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">T. J. Kline was raised competing in rodeos and rodeo queen competitions since the age of 14, She has thorough knowledge of the sport as well as the culture involved. She has had several articles about rodeo published in the past in small periodicals as well as a more recent how-to article for RevWriter. She is also an avid reader and book reviewer for both Tyndale and Multnomah.</span></div>
<i style="background-color: white; line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://tinaklinesmith.com/" target="_blank">Website</a> || <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TKlinesmith" target="_blank">Facebook</a> || <a href="https://twitter.com/TinaKlinesmith" target="_blank">Twitter</a> || <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7379969.T_J_Kline" target="_blank">Goodreads</a></span></i><br />
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Cris Conquershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01638311427061331435noreply@blogger.com1